“For thus is it spoken: Oft hope is born when all is forlorn.”

—Legolas, The Return of the King

“Every day that passes is a precious day lost.”

– Frodo, The Two Towers

“You must either go through or give up your quest. And I am not going to allow you to back out now, Mr. Baggins.”

– Gandalf

“Dangerous or not, a real sunrise is mighty welcome.”

– Frodo

“The hands of the King are the hands of healing.”

– Gandalf

“Despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt.”

– Gandalf

The word eucatastrophe (good catastrophe) was coined by J.R.R. Tolkien to describe what he believed was the essence and highest function of fairy-stories.

It is the sudden, unexpected joyous turn.

Tolkien explains, “In such stories when the sudden ‘turn’ comes we get a piercing glimpse of joy, and heart’s desire, that for a moment passes outside the frame, rends indeed the very web of story, and lets a gleam come through” (‘On Fairy-Stories’, 61).

Our latest content:

Seeing through Tolkien’s Eyes

Seeing through Tolkien’s Eyes

Like those Middle-earth travelers in the Fellowship, I’ve often been stymied and puzzled. Struggling to move forward, I have almost missed the clues I needed in order to break through life’s obstructive barricades and tangled relationships. How do you find your way...

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Things You Didn’t Know About Middle-earth Artefacts

Things You Didn’t Know About Middle-earth Artefacts

by Zan CampbellArtefacts play a large role in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. As a matter of fact, rings themselves are part of the title! But weapons, armor, and other items also feature prominently in the story. So, here are a few facts you may not have known about...

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Photo Contest Winner – homeandhoopco

Photo Contest Winner – homeandhoopco

Introducing our first winner,D’Lacey Eichinger! Home & Hoop Co. is the creative outlet for a nerd armed with a needle: creating vintage and literary inspired bespoke hand embroidery. Fiber artist D’Lacey Eichinger specializes in preserving memories in thread with...

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First Ever Photo Contest

On May 22nd, we launched our first ever photo contest on Instagram. By the 29th we already had so many entries that we had to announce finalists and choose a winner! We are thrilled to reveal the three finalists here and dedicate a post to our...

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The Best of Tolkien on the web

The Best of Tolkien on the web

Enjoy our curated list of articles, audio and video from around the web. What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments!Interview with Michael Haldas on J.R.R. Tolkien  Frederica Mathewes-Green interviews author and AFR podcaster Michael...

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Rosemary Goat Cheese Mold with Fig Jam Topping

Rosemary Goat Cheese Mold with Fig Jam Topping

by Emily Wert @QueenNellie1 INGREDIENTS 3 8 oz packages cream cheese 1 10 oz log goat cheese 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon coarsely ground pepper 2-3 cups fig jam Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and serve with water crackers...

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TOLKIEN Movie Premiere thoughts

TOLKIEN Movie Premiere thoughts

Review by Jim WertDragonCon High Fantasy Tolkien Enthusiast@MadeyeGamgee Still pondering my reflections on the Tolkien movie. My bottom line is this is a worthy effort worth any Tolkien fan investing in a ticket to go see. Yes, it's fictionalized, yes there are...

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TOLKIEN movie discussion and review

TOLKIEN movie discussion and review

This review comes in two parts.

First a video. Zan Campbell and Paul Radford recorded their discussion as they drive to see a screening of TOLKIEN in Asheville, NC. 

Next, enjoy Zan’s written response to seeing the movie. . . .

Members receive full access.

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TOLKIEN movie review

TOLKIEN movie review

Best attempts to translate a classic fantasy from page to the big screen can be fraught with fiery danger. But attempting to render the author’s own story is even riskier. Producers’ most ingenious endeavors can “stand on the edge of a knife.”

Across previous months, we have joined the ranks of Tolkien fans and scholars round the globe in great anticipation and trepidation. Fortunately, the TOLKIEN movie does not disappoint . . .

Members receive full access.

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As an author, Tolkien was a creator—or, as he would put it, a “sub-creator.”

 
Tolkien created a fully-imagined world. Middle-earth has a depth of diverse cultures, histories, geography, peoples, characters, family trees, languages, and calendars unrivaled in 20th- and 21st-century literature. Although Tolkien stated that The Lord of the Rings is not an allegory, he did say there’s always an abundance of applicability available for readers to use in their Present-earth lives and historical context.
 

Eucatastrophe.com strives to suggest new vistas of potential applicability for Tolkien fans to explore and enjoy, taking you deeper into Tolkien’s Middle-earth mythology.