anticlimax

Anticlimax is a narrative or rhetorical device in which a sequence of events builds toward a peak of expectation, only to be followed by a disappointing, trivial, or understated conclusion. The effect can be humorous, ironic, or critical, depending on how the setup and payoff are framed. The term combines anti- with climax; climactic derives from Greek klimá, meaning ladder or step, used metaphorically for rising action.

In literature, rhetoric, and media, anticlimax can occur when a scene or plot reaches a high point of tension or significance but resolves in an unexpectedly plain way. It may be used deliberately to subvert conventions, parody grandiose storytelling, or critique inflated aspirations. When an abrupt shift from elevated to mundane is intentional, it is usually described as a comedic or satirical device. If the shift is unintended or excessive, it can be associated with bathos, a fall from the solemn to the trivial.

Anticlimax appears across genres, including drama, prose, poetry, film, and television. It can function to deflate cliché, reveal character imperfection, or underscore the limits of human striving. In some cases, it encourages readers or viewers to reassess what constitutes a payoff or success, highlighting the gap between expectation and outcome.

See also: climax, bathos, irony, disappointment.