The rope tightening and fastening device of the invention is a flat, elongated device having at one end a forward-opening, V-shaped mouth including opposing surfaces and at the other end a rear-facing back edge with a knob extending rearward therefrom. Rear and cinching apertures are disposed between the mouth and knob, the rear aperture having a forward-facing engagement surface and the cinching aperture having a rear-facing engagement surface, the forward-facing engagement surface configured to engage the beginning of one leg of a rear loop of rope that is passed through the rear aperture and fastened around the knob, the rear-facing engagement surface configured to engage the end of a return leg of a forward loop of rope extending from the rear aperture, and the opposing surfaces of the mouth having gripping members for securing a portion of rope under tension in the mouth.