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CARD 2 OF 2

climax

noun

Reveal meaning and examples

The highest or most intense point in a sequence, especially in a story.

The discovery of the hidden letter forms the climax of the novel.
Dictionary practice example.
One reader confused the antecedent with the climax, treating the missed train as the story's most intense moment simply because it occurred first. Another still found the letter an enigma after the travelers recognized their matching pages, since nobody had explained who separated them. Jo revised the closing exchange so that the recognition remained the emotional high point while a few added details clarified the mystery. The workshop distinguished an event's place in the sequence from its role in creating intensity or understanding.
From What the Short Story Leaves Unsaid.
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