The closing lines of a story should accomplish the following:
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Readers should understand the theme of a story. - The conclusion often reinforces the central themes, leaving readers with a deeper understanding of the underlying messages or moral lessons.
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Readers should understand what happened in the story. - A well-crafted closing should summarize or clarify the key events, providing closure and helping readers comprehend the overall narrative arc.
These two elements help ensure that the story resonates and stays with the reader after they've finished.