Click images to see a larger version of the picture. Juan de Flandes - The Baptism of Christ , c. 1961.9.25 Kunst, Pieter Cornelisz. Click images to see a larger version of the picture. Epiphany is also a Literary Device.
Most surprise endings involve an unexpected event or a revealing explanation.
Such endings were the specialty of O. Henry, an American short-story writer of the late 1800's and early 1900's. Epiphany is a sudden comment, incident, or symbol that can be used at any point in a story to explain the meaning of a complex event. James Joyce, an Irish author of the early 1900's, created this technique. The Catholic Encyclopedia Online says a lot about Epiphany . Annie's Home Page.