Incongruous – adjective Out of keeping or place; inappropriate; unbecoming (Dictionary.com) Not harmonious in character; inconsonant; lacking harmony of parts; inconsistent (Dictionary.com) Unusual or different from what is around or from what is generally happening (Cambridge) Appearing strange or wrong within a particular situation (Cambridge) Lacking congruity: such as not harmonious: incompatible not conforming: disagreeing inconsistent within itself lacking propriety: unsuitable (Merriam-Webster) “Incongruous is a spin-off of its antonym, congruous, which means ‘in agreement, harmony, or correspondence.’ Etymologists are in agreement about the origin of both words; they trace it to the Latin verb congruere, which means ‘to come together’ or ‘to agree.’ The dates of the words’ first uses in English match up pretty well, too. The first known use of congruous dates from 1599, and the earliest print appearance of incongruous dates from 1611.” – Merriam-Webster

Denouement – noun The final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work (Merriam-Webster) The outcome of a complex sequence of events (Merriam-Webster) The end of a story, in which everything is explained, or the end result of a situation (Cambridge) “The denouement is the final outcome of the story, generally occurring after the climax of the plot. Often it’s where all the secrets (if there are any) are revealed and loose ends are tied up. For example, the denouement of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet comes just after Romeo and Juliet take their own lives. When the families find their dead bodies, Escalus explains that their deaths are a result of the family feud, leaving members of both sides to feel guilty. That is the denouement.” – Writer’s Digest Writing tips about denouement: Endings don’t always have to be happy, but they do need to be satisfying Endings are always embedded in the beginning of a story. The denouement is a final resolution of the plot. After the dramatic tension has risen to its climax, the events following the crux reveal how the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Endings that don’t work: When you don’t leave room for the reader’s imagination When you overwrite the ending in purple prose When you’ve abandoned a character and your reader is left wondering whatever happened to the person who disappeared from any scenes in the last third of the book When you drop a major concept and the reader is…

Propitious – adjective Likely to result in success, or showing signs of success (Cambridge) Favorably disposed: benevolent (Merriam-Webster) Being a good omen: auspicious (Merriam-Webster) Tending to favor: advantageous (Merriam-Webster) Presenting favorable conditions; favorable (Dictionary.com) Favorably inclined; disposed to bestow favors or forgive (Dictionary.com) “Propitious, which comes to us through Middle English from the Latin word propitius (same meaning as ‘propitious’), is a synonym of ‘favorable’ and ‘auspicious.’ All three essentially mean ‘pointing toward a happy outcome,’ with some differences of emphasis. ‘Favorable’ implies that the persons involved in a situation are approving or helpful, or that circumstances are advantageous (‘favorable weather conditions’). ‘Auspicious’ usually applies to a sign or omen that promises success before or at the start of an event (‘an auspicious beginning’). ‘Propitious’ may also apply to beginnings, but it often suggests a continuing promising condition (‘propitious conditions for an alliance’).” – Merriam-Webster