Eucatastrophe
Eucatastrophe is a term coined by J.R.R. Tolkien in the 1940s that describes a "good catastrophe," referring to a dramatic and unexpected reversal of fortune in a narrative where a situation appears to be heading toward a tragic conclusion. Originally applied to fairy tales, eucatastrophe captures moments when characters face seemingly insurmountable odds, only to experience an uplifting turn of events that restores hope and leads to a happy ending. Tolkien's concept emphasizes the emotional impact of such moments, which often follow a build-up of despair, making the resolution feel both surprising and satisfying.
The term combines the Greek words "eu," meaning "good," and "catastrophe," which relates to overturning or disaster. Eucatastrophe is prevalent in various forms of storytelling, including literature and film, with notable examples like the unexpected victory against the Death Star in *Star Wars* and the resolution of financial troubles in *It's a Wonderful Life*. Additionally, eucatastrophic events can be found in real life, such as the fog that aided George Washington's escape during the Revolutionary War. Tolkien himself illustrated eucatastrophe through the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ, highlighting its significance as a transformative moment in human history.
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Eucatastrophe
Coined by author J.R.R. Tolkien in the 1940s, eucatastrophe means a "good catastrophe," or the total reversal of a story or situation that seems headed toward a tragic ending. Tolkien originally applied the term to fairy tales and similar stories in which it appears that a hero, heroine, or prized object is or is about to be irrevocably lost or destroyed, only to have a sudden, happy turn of events averting or reversing this loss. Since this original use, the term has been applied to many other types of stories and situations—including real-life events—where an otherwise tragic occurrence is overcome by an unexpected, unanticipated, and pleasing change of circumstances.
Overview
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892–1973) was a British author and English scholar best known for writing The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tolkien was an expert in Old and Middle English, and expensively studied and taught about works written in these languages. Tolkien first used the term "eucatastrophe" in a letter in the early 1940s. It subsequently appeared in print in his book On Fairy Stories, published in 1947. The book was originally the text of a lecture delivered in 1939 at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Tolkien created the word by combining the Greek prefix eu, meaning "good," with the word "catastrophe." "Catastrophe" is also Greek in origin; its root word means "overturn." Eucatastrophe now means any large and especially disastrous event with major consequences.
Tolkien used eucatastrophe to label the moment in a story when everything that seems to be going terribly wrong suddenly and unexpectedly goes right in a way that exceeds the reader's hopes. This moment in the plot is often especially emotional because after the writer has removed all hope, a happy ending suddenly appears. Such an ending is a requirement in any literary situation incorporating eucatastrophe.
However, the lead-up to the ending must also be specifically crafted in such a way that disaster seems inescapable, and insurmountable forces are opposing the protagonist—a pleasing ending seems not just doubtful but impossible. In some cases, it incorporates the literary technique of deus ex machina. This plot device uses a sudden and improbable change of circumstances to solve what seems to be an unsolvable problem.
Eucatastrophe is common in fiction. For example, it is used in The Lord of the Rings. When it seems that the hobbits Sam and Bilbo will fail in destroying the One Ring, and the evil Sauron will take over Middle-earth, the unexpected arrival of Gollum changes everything. Other examples include the destruction of the Death Star in Star Wars and the sudden arrival of cash donations from friends that erase Harry Bailey’s debt in It’s a Wonderful Life.
However, eucatastrophe applies to real-life events as well. The unexpected fog that covered the escape of George Washington and more than nine thousand men from New York in 1776 is one example of real-life eucatastrophe. In On Fairy-Tales, Tolkien, a devout Christian, cited the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the best example of eucatastrophe in human history because it reversed humanity from being doomed to die to the possibility of eternal life.
Bibliography
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Fisher, Richard. "Eucatastrophe: Tolkien's word for the 'anti-doomsday'." BBC, 12 Oct. 2022, www.bbc.com/future/article/20221005-eucatastrophe-tolkiens-word-for-the-anti-doomsday. Accessed 21 Nov. 2022.
Hudson, Grant P. "Eucatastrophe in Stories." Claredon House Books, 13 Sept. 2016, www.clarendonhousebooks.com/single-post/2016/09/13/eucatastrophe-in-stories. Accessed 21 Nov. 2022.
Rothman, Lily. "Here's the Perfect Word to Describe Watching The Hobbit." Time, 17 Dec. 2014, time.com/3630280/hobbit-movie-eucatastrophe/. Accessed 21 November 2022.
Tolkien, J.R.R. On Fairy Stories, /uh.edu/fdis/‗taylor-dev/readings/tolkien.html. Accessed 21 Nov. 2022.
Walker, Jonathan. "JRR Tolkien Invented the Term 'Eucatastrophe.' What Does It Mean?" Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2021, lithub.com/jrr-tolkien-invented-the-term-eucatastrophe-what-does-it-mean/. Accessed 21 Nov. 2022.