Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of True Grit. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross gets her revenge when she shoots Tom Chaney, the man who killed her father, but the gun's recoil throws her into a snake pit, where she is bitten. Rooster Cogburn rides her to safety and saves her life, but she loses her arm, and years later, as an old woman, she learns Rooster has died.
Quick facts
– Book: True Grit by Charles Portis
– First published: 1968
– Type: A Western novel
– Tone of the ending: Bittersweet
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Mattie hires the tough, one-eyed U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn to track Chaney into Indian Territory. A Texas Ranger, LaBoeuf, joins them. Mattie insists on coming along.
What Happens at the End of True Grit
Mattie finds Chaney and shoots him. She falls into a pit with rattlesnakes. Rooster rescues her, rides her horse to death and gets her to a doctor. She loses her arm. Twenty-five years later, she tries to visit Rooster, but he has died. She moves his body to her family plot.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Mattie gets revenge.
- She loses her arm.
- Rooster saves her.
- Rooster dies before she can see him.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Mattie Ross | Loses her arm |
| Rooster Cogburn | Dies years later |
| LaBoeuf | Disappears |
| Tom Chaney | Shot |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows the cost of revenge.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers love Mattie's voice and stubbornness.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Justice. Mattie seeks justice.
Courage. Mattie's courage.
Loss. Mattie loses her arm.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of True Grit as bittersweet. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Charles Portis to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are bittersweet will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Charles Portis closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1969 film with John Wayne keeps Mattie's arm, while the 2010 Coen brothers film follows the novel's ending.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading True Grit with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about justice, and do you agree with Charles Portis's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as bittersweet, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces justice and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Charles Portis leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in True Grit often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of True Grit earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of True Grit on Amazon
Books to Read After True Grit
- Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
- Shane by Jack Schaefer
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of True Grit?
Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross gets her revenge when she shoots Tom Chaney, the man who killed her father, but the gun's recoil throws her into a snake pit, where she is bitten. Rooster Cogburn rides her to safety and saves her life, but she loses her arm, and years later, as an old woman, she learns Rooster has died.
Is the ending of True Grit happy or sad?
Most readers call it bittersweet.
What does the ending of True Grit mean?
The ending shows the cost of revenge.
Is the ending of True Grit the same in the adaptation?
The 1969 film with John Wayne keeps Mattie's arm, while the 2010 Coen brothers film follows the novel's ending.
Who wrote True Grit and when was it published?
True Grit was written by Charles Portis and first published in 1968.
Is True Grit worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy Western novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Charles Portis prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read True Grit before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.