Denouement Examples

The resolution of a story is often referred to by the French term denouement. Denouement literally means "to untie." The resolution, or denouement, of a story is when the conflicts are ultimately resolved and problems are solved in one way or another. The denouement of a story is one of five main parts of the plot.

It is important to note that not all resolutions are positive or happy. Sometimes the conflict is resolved in a way that is painful for characters, but ultimately, the conflict is resolved.

An underdog team works to fight through conflicts throughout the plot, but in the end, they come together and win the championship game.

A small girl goes missing and an entire town spends days looking for her. As everyone is nearing the end of their patience, the little girl is located in the woods near her home.

Examples from Literature and Film:

In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet are dead, and their families end their feud as they realize that their hatred has led to the deaths of their children.

CAPULET:

"O brother Montague, give me thy hand.
This is my daughter's jointure, for no more
Can I demand..."

MONTAGUE:

"But I can give thee more,
For I will raise her statue in pure gold,
That whiles Verona by that name is known...
As that of true and faithful Juliet..."

CAPULET:

"As rich shall Romeo's by his lady's lie,
Poor sacrifices of our enmity..."

PRINCE:

"A glooming peace this morning with it brings.
The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head..."

In the Biblical story of Noah and the Flood, the flood waters recede after a period of time, and Noah, his family, and all of the animals are able to exit the ark. The rainbow becomes a symbol that God will not use a flood to destroy the Earth again. This is Genesis 9:13-16:

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."