A sudden, favorable turn of events at the end of a story; a happy ending that emerges from the darkest moment.
Coined by J.R.R. Tolkien in 1944 from Greek 'eu' (good) + 'catastrophe' (overturning). Tolkien believed the best stories turn disaster into unexpected joy — as in Gollum's fall into Mount Doom.
TOLKIEN invented this word! It's the opposite of catastrophe — when everything looks hopeless and then SUDDENLY it's wonderful! The eagles arriving, the ring destroyed — eucatastrophe is the moment your heart soars! 🦅ðŸ’
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