The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

There’s a satisfaction that comes from a full-circle ending, where some element from the beginning of the story shows up again at the end. The element is similar, but the circumstance is different because of the journey of the story. A full-circle element may be an activity, a location, a circumstance, or a line of dialogue.

The story begins with Zelda sitting on the porch of her family’s backwoods home, frustrated by the limitations of her backwoods upbringing. After a story that takes her out into the world where she encounters all kinds of people and has all kinds of adventures, she returns home. The story ends with her once again seated on the porch, now appreciating the beauty and values of the place where she was raised.

When you’re looking for an ending, look backwards, not forwards.