“Eucatasrophe” is a term coined by J.R.R.Tolkien to describe a certain necessary element in all the best fairy stories. If a catastrophe is a sudden and unexpected turn for the worst, then a eucatastrophe is a similarly unforeseen sudden joyous turn. When it seems that all is dying and would leave the world to mourn, the sun rises, and all that was sad comes undone. It doesn’t always mean the ending is unequivocally happy (just look at Tolkien’s own great fairy story), but the evil doesn’t win. The Shadow is eclipsed by light and laughter.
Here on Eucatastrophe, I strive to celebrate my favorite stories in such a way that’s both inviting to newcomers and insightful for diehard fans like me. I’ve completed four projects thus far: Let’s Read The Chronicles of Narnia (which looks at that series chapter by chapter), Let’s Watch Princess Tutu (which basically does the same thing with my favorite anime), Let’s Read Fruits Basket (I went through the manga before the new anime was announced), and The Lord of the Rings (because it was inevitable). I’m currently embarking on Steven Universe, my favorite American cartoon (whose adorableness I only recently discovered), but I’ll also occasionally post random thoughts/lists on other stories.
Eucatastrophe 
I love the idea of this project! I’ll probably find myself drifting around here now and then. Your writing style is also very enjoyable. ^.^
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Can we make requests? Because, fight me, ‘This is How You Lose the Time War’ actually was that good
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I’ll be sure to check that out! But I’m already set on my next series (and Jane Eyre will take me a while yet). The main issue is that if I don’t love something, I don’t want to write a whole series about it.
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I just finished up teaching Voyage of the Dawn Treader as a novel study with my 7th graders & stumbled across your beautiful site here! We are kindred spirits — your favorites are also my favorites. This is a fantastic body of work you have built here over the years, & I will be using this as a resource in my classroom for years to come! I might even have to create my own site for this type of analysis for the works we cover. I did a very deep dive into The Hobbit in the fall with 8th grade. There are not many sites that check my boxes on summary & analysis. This reads in a lovely way, like a dialectical journal. I may have to begin my own journey into Hobbiton in a similar manner!
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Glad to hear that my work is appreciated!
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