ESL Podcast 494 - Types of Story Endings
to head toward - to advance or progress toward something; to go in a particular direction
The cars driving on this road usually slow down as they head toward the dangerous turns.
tragic - related to a book, story, or song that has a very sad and unhappy ending, often where people die
Libby cried when she read the book's tragic ending.
twist - an unexpected change; something that happens suddenly and that changes the direction of a story
The book is full of many interesting twists, so the ending was a big surprise.
satisfying - something that makes one feel good because it fulfills one's expectations; something that leaves one feeling full or complete
On a cold winter day, beef stew is a satisfying meal.
sappy - too emotional; so emotional that something seems silly
Becca loves watching sappy romances, but her husband prefers action films.
disaster movie - a movie about big natural disasters (earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.) or the end of the world
Last week, I watched a disaster movie about a horrible disease, and now I can't stop thinking about it every time I hear someone cough!
catastrophic - disastrous; very bad, with a lot of suffering and death; terrible
The civil war has had catastrophic consequences for the people who live in that country.
realistic - showing the world as it really is, without imagination; showing something how it actually is instead of how one would like it to be
He wants to be a millionaire, but that's not very realistic, considering how quickly he spends money.
happily ever after - the way that most children's stories end, with everyone feeling happy and without any problems
The prince saved the princess from the evil dragon, and they all lived happily ever after.
series finale - the last show in a series (a group of shows with the same characters, where each show is another part of a long story)
Did you see the series finale of Seinfeld, where all the characters ended up in jail?
cliffhanger - a chapter, show, or movie that seems to be incomplete and leaves people wondering what will happen next
This week's show ended with a real cliffhanger. I can't wait to see the next episode!
resolved - complete; finished; decided
Can you believe that their disagreement still hasn't been resolved? It looks like they'll continue arguing forever.
to leave (someone) hanging - to do or say something that makes other people want to have more information or know what will happen next
Aren't you going to tell us about your date with Tina's brother? Please don't leave us hanging! We want to hear all about it.
to stay true to (something) - to remain consistent with something; to not change one's behavior or actions; to do what one has always done
Gavin stayed true to his beliefs and refused to drink alcohol even though all his friends were doing it.
spirit - the group of ideas, opinions, actions, and beliefs that characterize a person or thing
Even though the economy isn't doing well, the spirit of the company hasn't changed.
dark - dealing with negative, evil, secretive, or mysterious things
He has a dark sense of humor that many people don't understand.
sequel - a show or movie that is a continuation of another show or movie; part two
How many sequels are there to the movie Rocky?
either way - a phrase used to refer to two options at once, where only one of them will happen
We can go to a restaurant or eat something at home. Either way, it will be nice to have dinner with you.