Closure: Etymology
The term “closure” derives from the Latin word “clausura,” which means “a closing” or “enclosure.” The etymology of “closure” can be traced through Old French and Middle English, where it evolved to signify the act of closing or bringing to an end. In a broader sense, closure has developed metaphorical connotations over time, encompassing psychological, emotional, and conceptual notions of resolution or completeness.
The term has been incorporated into various academic disciplines, including psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and mathematics, each utilizing it to describe the finality, resolution, or culmination of a process, event, or idea.
Closure: Literal and Conceptual Meanings
| Literal Meaning | Conceptual Meaning |
| From Latin “clausura” | Psychological resolution |
| Means “a closing” | Emotional completion |
| Evolved in Old French | Conceptual finality |
| Middle English usage | Closure of a process or event |
| Act of closing or ending | Sense of completeness |
| Physical enclosure | Resolution of a problem or conflict |
| Culmination of a narrative or idea |
This table outlines both the literal and conceptual meanings of “closure,” highlighting its linguistic roots and its application in various contexts, from the physical act of closing to its metaphorical use in describing psychological and conceptual resolution.
Closure: Definition as a Literary Device
Closure, as a literary device, refers to the satisfying resolution or conclusion of a narrative, providing a sense of completeness and finality to the reader. It involves tying up loose ends, resolving conflicts, and offering insights that bring the story to a logical and emotionally resonant endpoint.
The use of closures enhances the overall impact of a literary work by fulfilling narrative expectations and fostering a deeper engagement with the themes and characters presented.
Closure: Types
Closures in literature can take various forms, providing different types of resolutions to a narrative. Some common types of closures include:
- Linear Closures: The narrative concludes in a straightforward chronological manner, with the resolution unfolding in a linear sequence, often aligning with the overall chronological order of events in the story.
- Circular Closures: The narrative returns to an earlier point or theme, creating a circular structure that connects the ending to the beginning. This type of closure often emphasizes the cyclical nature of events or the idea that history repeats itself.
- Ambiguous Closures: The resolution leaves certain elements open to interpretation, allowing readers to draw their conclusions about the fate of characters or the overall meaning of the story. Ambiguous closure can provoke thought and discussion among readers.
- Episodic Closure: Each subplot or significant story element receives its resolution independently, providing closure to various aspects of the narrative while maintaining an overarching continuity.
- Inverted Closure: The resolution defies expectations or subverts traditional narrative structures, challenging readers’ preconceptions and offering a unique or unexpected conclusion that may depart from conventional norms.
- Emotional Closure: The narrative achieves closure by addressing the emotional arcs of the characters, ensuring that their internal conflicts or emotional journeys find resolution, even if external events remain open-ended.
- Open-Ended Closure: The story concludes without a definitive resolution, leaving certain questions unanswered or allowing readers to speculate about the characters’ futures. Open-ended closure can create a sense of realism or evoke a lingering impact.
Writers often choose the type of closure that aligns with the themes, tone, and goals of their narrative, using it as a powerful tool to shape the reader’s experience and perception of the story.
Closure: Examples in Everyday Life
Closure/s is a concept not only applicable to literature but also evident in various aspects of everyday life. Here are examples that illustrate the idea of closure in different contexts:
- Relationships: When individuals experience the end of a romantic relationship, closure may come in the form of a final conversation, mutual understanding, or emotional resolution. It allows individuals to move forward with a sense of acceptance and understanding.
- Grieving Process: In dealing with the loss of a loved one, closures can be achieved through rituals like funerals, memorial services, or personal reflection. These activities help individuals come to terms with their emotions and find a sense of peace.
- Job Transitions: Leaving a job or career can involve seeking closures by expressing gratitude, saying farewell to colleagues, or completing outstanding tasks. This helps in concluding one professional chapter and transitioning to the next.
- Education: Graduation ceremonies serve as a form of closures for students, marking the completion of a specific educational phase. The ceremony provides a sense of accomplishment and symbolizes the readiness to move on to the next stage of life.
- Conflict Resolution: In resolving conflicts, closure is achieved when parties involved reach an agreement, express their grievances, and find common ground. This closure allows for the restoration of relationships and the potential for moving forward positively.
- Home Buying or Selling: The completion of a real estate transaction, involving the transfer of ownership and the exchange of keys, provides closures in the process of buying or selling a home. It marks the official transition of living spaces.
- Project Completion: When completing a project at work or a personal endeavor, the finalization of tasks, presentation of results, or the achievement of goals provides a sense of closure. It allows individuals to assess their accomplishments and lessons learned.
- Apology and Forgiveness: In resolving conflicts or misunderstandings, closures can be achieved through a sincere apology and the subsequent act of forgiveness. This process helps in healing relationships and moving past negative experiences.
In these examples, closures serve as a means of bringing a sense of resolution, understanding, and completeness to different life events and transitions. It plays a crucial role in facilitating emotional well-being and enabling individuals to progress to the next stages of their lives.
Closure in Literature: Suggested Readings
- Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. Anchor Books, 1998.
- Ishiguro, Kazuo. Never Let Me Go. Vintage Books, 2006.
- Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Alfred A. Knopf, 1987.
- Murakami, Haruki. Kafka on the Shore. Vintage International, 2006.
- Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. Half of a Yellow Sun. Anchor Books, 2007.
- Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. Scribner, 2014.
- Lahiri, Jhumpa. The Namesake. Mariner Books, 2004.
- Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist. HarperOne, 1993.
- Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: An Introduction. Blackwell, 2008.
- Brooks, Cleanth, and Robert Penn Warren. Understanding Fiction. Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1959.
