Coda
/ˈkoʊdə/
nounB2
Definition
A coda is the ending section of something like music, a speech, or a story. It is used to finish or close the whole piece in a way that feels complete. In music, it often repeats or adds new material to make the ending stronger.
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See It in Action
The concluding passage of a musical composition
- •The symphony ended with a powerful coda that repeated the main theme.
- •The pianist played the coda slowly to emphasize the ending.
- •Composers often write a coda to give extra meaning to the ending of a piece.
The final part of a speech, story, or event that sums things up
- •The speaker added a coda to remind the audience of the main points.
- •The novel’s coda revealed what happened to the characters years later.
- •After the main story, the movie had a coda showing the future of the heroes.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "coda" like "end," but more special because it makes the ending feel complete and finished, not just stopping suddenly.
- ✓Picture a song playing, and at the end, there is a little extra part that wraps everything up nicely.
- ✓It's the feeling when a story or a speech has a last part that helps you understand everything and feel satisfied.
- ✓Sounds like "COH-duh" → imagine a coat ("coat") wrapping you warmly at the end of a cold day, just like a coda wraps up music or speech.
- ✓In movies, think of the final scene that shows what happens after the main story ends, giving closure.
- ✓NOT like "pause" or "stop" (which just end something suddenly), a coda is a planned ending that gives a sense of completion.
- ✓NOT like "introduction" (which starts something), a coda is always at the end.
- ✓NOT like "chorus" (which repeats in the middle), a coda comes only at the very end.
Try Other Words
- •Ending: the last part of something (Use when you want a general word for the conclusion)
- •Conclusion: the final part that finishes or sums up (Use when emphasizing summary or final thoughts)
- •Finale: the last part of a performance or event (Use when referring to dramatic or showy endings)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix; "coda" is a whole word)
- •Etymology: From Italian "coda," meaning "tail"
- •Historical development: Originally used in music to mean a "tail" or extra ending part; later expanded to speech and stories
- •Modern usage: Used in music, literature, and speeches to describe a clear, often extended ending part
- •Key insight: Like a "tail," it adds something extra after the main body to finish well
Reflect & Connect
•How does a coda change the feeling of a story or song’s ending compared to a simple stop?
•Can you think of a time when a speech or story had a coda that helped you understand it better?
Fill in the blanks
1.The composer wrote a ___ that repeated the main theme to give a strong finish.
2.In stories, a coda often shows what happens ___ the main events have ended.
3.A coda is different from a simple ending because it ___ the piece in a clear and complete way.
4.The speaker used a coda to ___ the main points before finishing.
5.Unlike a chorus, which appears in the middle, a coda comes only at the ___.
6.When a song feels unfinished, it usually means it is missing a good ___.
7.The coda often includes ___ or new material to make the ending special.