THE ROLE OF AMBIGUITY AND OPEN ENDINGS IN FLASH FICTION

Abstract

Flash fiction, as an narrative form, relies on compression, implication, and reader participation to achieve its impact. This article explores the role of ambiguity and open endings as defining features of flash fiction, arguing that these elements are not merely stylistic choices but essential narrative strategies. Through close analysis of selected works by contemporary flash fiction writers, including Tara Campbell and Lydia Davis, the study demonstrates how ambiguity invites multiple interpretations, encourages active reader engagement, and expands the emotional and intellectual resonance of extremely brief texts.

The article further examines how open endings disrupt traditional narrative closure, shifting the responsibility of meaning-making from author to reader. In doing so, flash fiction becomes a collaborative space where gaps, silences, and unresolved tensions function as narrative engines. Drawing on theories from Narratology and reader-response criticism, the research highlights how indeterminacy enhances the aesthetic experience and reflects contemporary realities marked by uncertainty and fragmentation. Ultimately, the study concludes that ambiguity and open-endedness are central to the poetics of flash fiction, enabling writers to achieve depth and complexity within extreme brevity while fostering a more participatory and interpretive reading process.