The Quenta Silmarillion Eucatastrophe-less

[Firefoot]

If there is only one, then everyone should give the same answer.

If we are looking at eucatastrophe from an objective perspective, then yes, this is true. I'm still not sure it is objective - in theory, perhaps, but that doesn't change that what I feel to be eucatastrophic could be different from what others think. Anyway, Imladirs said:

Ultimate Eucatastrophe in ... LotR: when the Black Gate crumbles

If I were to say what the Ultimate Eucatastrophe in LotR was, I would say that it is Frodo's departure into the west. To me, this is the most eucatastrophic event in the entire legendarium. I think that this would dispute the claim that there is only one per story. In fact, I see no reason why there should only be one per story.

In light of Bethberry's clarifications on eucatastrophe, I think I have been judging the Sil too harshly. The elements of eucatastrophe are certainly there; they just aren't as poignant (to me) as the examples that I could readily come up with from LotR. And again, I think that the style of writing has a lot to do with this. Right on the cover of my copy of the Sil it reads: "The Epic History of the Elves in the Lord of the Rings". I have not read Beowulf, but what others have said on this makes sense. I'm no expert, but the Sil seems to me to be written very much like an Epic. This is not exactly very conforming to the essence of eucatastrophe, and from this perspective I think Tolkien did a good job bringing it into the Sil. I think the eucatastrophe would be much more readily seen if the Sil was written like LotR (not that I'd want it to).

On the whole, very interesting posts by everyone here.