One good twist ending could be that the person the protagonist has been helping throughout the story is actually the villain who has been manipulating events all along. For example, in a story where a detective is helping a seemingly innocent witness, at the end it's revealed that the witness set up the whole crime just to get revenge on someone and used the detective to cover their tracks.
The movie 'The Sixth Sense' has a great twist ending. The whole time, we think the psychologist is helping a boy who sees dead people, but in the end, we realize that the psychologist is actually dead himself. It completely changes how you view the entire movie.
Sure. A twist ending could be that the character who seems to be the weakest in the story turns out to be the most powerful. For instance, in a story set in a school where a bullied student is always picked on, at the end, it's revealed that this student has some sort of superpower that they've been hiding, and they use it to turn the tables on the bullies.
In 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart, the big twist at the end that Cadence's memories are false and she was the cause of the accident on the island is a great example. 'The Prestige' has an amazing twist too. When it's revealed that each magician has been sacrificing a clone of themselves to perform their trick, it's a wild turn of events. Then there's 'The Kite Runner', where the discovery that Hassan was actually the half - brother of Amir is a very emotional and unexpected twist at the end.
In the world of novels with great twist endings, 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' by Agatha Christie stands out. Christie was a master of the surprise ending, and this book is a prime example. 'Shutter Island' by Dennis Lehane also has a brilliant and thought - provoking twist at the end. And 'Before I Go to Sleep' by S. J. Watson. The ending is so unexpected that it makes you want to reread the whole book to pick up on the clues you missed.
A reconciliation can also make a great short story ending. Let's say two friends had a huge fight and the story was about their estrangement. In the end, they meet, have an honest conversation, and forgive each other. This type of ending leaves the reader with a warm, fuzzy feeling of restored relationships.
A happy reunion can also make a great short - story ending. Say two friends had a big fight and parted ways. Throughout the story, they both realize how much they miss each other. In the end, they accidentally meet in a place that has special meaning to them and they hug, forgive each other, and their friendship is restored. This type of ending tugs at the heartstrings and leaves the reader with a warm feeling.
A bittersweet ending can also work well. Maybe the protagonist sacrifices themselves to save the fantasy world but in doing so, they leave behind a legacy. The world is saved, but their friends and family must now live without them. Like a knight who gives his life to seal a rift to the underworld, and his name becomes a legend that lives on, inspiring future generations.
Surprise is key. For example, in 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. At first, it seems like a normal small - town lottery. But then it turns out the 'winner' is actually going to be stoned to death. The sudden shift from a seemingly positive event to a horrific one is what makes it a great plot twist.
One good ending could be 'And in that moment, she realized she had found her true self at last.'
The short story 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant is also well - known for its twist. A woman borrows what she thinks is an expensive necklace for a party. She loses it and spends years in poverty trying to replace it. In the end, she discovers that the original necklace was a fake, which completely changes the way we view her whole ordeal.