The Quenta Silmarillion Eucatastrophe-less

[Aiwendil]

Kuruharan wrote:

Take Beowulf for example. I admit that I never had a feeling of particular joy at any point when I read the story. I would say that perhaps, in order for me to be a consistent and clear-thinking individual (tee hee), I should view the slayings of Grendel, Grendel’s Momma, and the dragon as each being eucatastrophic events.

I'm not so sure. Eucatastrophe, even defined objectively, does not equal a fortunate event or a happy ending. When Merry and Pippin escape from the Orcs, for example, that's not eucatastrophe. Eucatastrophe is, I think, a very specific sort of fortunate event. It's in a way the positive aspect of the old "deus ex machina". The requirements, I think, are, very broadly speaking, hopelessness or near hopelessness initially, then a sudden and unexpected turn for the better which, nonetheless, can be seen to follow naturally from what has gone before. And not just a turn for the better - a profound turn for the better. It's easy to see how such a thing can cause "piercing joy", and in my opinion the War of Wrath fits this account perfectly.