There are horrors beyond life's edge that we do not suspect, and once in a while man's evil prying calls them just within our range.
H. P. LovecraftRead
The end of a story must be stronger rather than weaker than the beginning, since it is the end which contains the denouement or culmination and which will leave the strongest impression upon the reader.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A strong ending is important in storytelling, as it leaves a lasting impression on the audience.
In this quote, H. P. Lovecraft emphasizes the significance of a compelling conclusion in storytelling. He suggests that a story's ending should be impactful and resonant, overshadowing the beginning to ensure that the audience remembers the narrative vividly. The end is pivotal as it often determines the audience's overall experience and understanding of the story, encapsulating its themes and providing closure.
Themes
StorytellingEndingImpressionNarrativeConclusion
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop to emphasize the importance of crafting a strong ending.
More from H. P. Lovecraft
All quotes →I know always that I am an outsider; a stranger in this century and among those who are still men.
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Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places.
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The process of delving into the black abyss is to me the keenest form of fascination.
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No new horror can be more terrible than the daily torture of the commonplace.
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I am, indeed, an absolute materialist so far as actual belief goes; with not a shred of credence in any form of supernaturalism—religion, spiritualism, transcendentalism, metempsychosis, or immortality.
H. P. LovecraftRead
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