J.R.R. Tolkien used the term eucatastrophe for a sudden joyful turn that rescues a story from catastrophe.
Tolkien introduced the word in his 1947 essay “On Fairy-Stories.” He formed it from Greek elements meaning “good” and “disaster,” presenting it as the opposite of a tragic ending. For Tolkien, the best fairy-stories could bring hope without pretending that suffering or loss had never occurred.
He distinguished eucatastrophe from a merely happy or convenient ending. The reversal should arise from the story’s structure and produce a powerful emotional release. In The Lord of the Rings, the destruction of the Ring and the unexpected survival of Frodo’s mission are often discussed as examples, although the victory does not erase the characters’ sacrifices.
Tolkien also connected the idea to Christian theology, calling the Resurrection the “greatest” eucatastrophe. The term is now used more broadly in literary criticism and fantasy discussions.