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The Hobbit

The Hobbit. Deus ex machina & Eucatastrophe. Sources: Fluit , Chris. “Eucatastrophe.” 2008. Olsen, Corey. Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit . 2012. Rahel , Julie. Tolkien’s Eucatastrophe . 2013. Tolkien, J.R.R. “On Fairy Stories.” 1947. Deus ex machina.

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The Hobbit

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  1. The Hobbit Deus ex machina & Eucatastrophe Sources: Fluit, Chris. “Eucatastrophe.” 2008. Olsen, Corey. Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. 2012. Rahel, Julie. Tolkien’s Eucatastrophe. 2013. Tolkien, J.R.R. “On Fairy Stories.” 1947.

  2. Deus ex machina • Deus ex machina – God from the machine • Refers to Greek theater when a god was mechanically brought on stage to resolve the plot. • The hero is saved from doom • It is viewed negatively • Shows a lack of creativity • Is not believable • Strains suspension of belief • Phrase coined by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1817

  3. Deus ex machina: Examples • MacGuyver • The Wizard of Oz • SpongebobSquarepants Movie

  4. Eucatastrophe: definition • Eucatastrophe: good catastrophe • Greekeu(good) and catastrophe(destruction) • Eucatastrophe is more than a happy ending. It is a sudden joyous “turn” in the story (for there is no true end to any fairy-story). It is a miraculous grace, never to be counted on to recur. • Eucatastrophe does not deny the existence of sorrow and failure, but it denies universal final defeat, giving a fleeting glimpse of Joy.

  5. Eucatastrophe: Example • C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe • The arrival of Father Christmas

  6. Deus ex machina & EucatastropheSIMILARITIES • Sudden • Unexpected • Miraculous • Happy Ending

  7. Deus ex machina & Eucatastrophedifferences • Deus ex machina • Unbelievable • Doesn’t fit with the story • Comes from the outside • Happy ending neatly ties loose ends • Hope is not a factor • Artificial, random, forced • Eucatastrophe • Believable • Fits with the story • From within the story • Happy ending is mixed with sorrow and failure • Hope prevails • Naturalpart of the story

  8. Tolkien’s ESSAY“On Fairy Stories” • There is no true end to any fairy-story “Redeemed Man is still man. Story, fantasy still go on, and should go on…The Christian has still to work, with mind as well as body, to suffer, hope, and die” (Tolkien 13).

  9. TURN TO PAGE 41 of YOURINTERACTIVE NOTEBOOK

  10. Interactive Notebook PAGE 41 Deus ex machina vs Eucatastrophe • Deus ex machina • Unbelievable • Doesn’t fit with the story • Comes from the outside • Happy ending - neatly ties loose ends • Hope is not a factor • Artificial, random, forced • Eucatastrophe • Believable • Fits with the story • From within the story • Happy ending - mixed with sorrow and failure • Hope prevails • Naturalpart of the story • Similarities • Sudden • Unexpected • Miraculous • Happy Ending

  11. Interactive Notebook PAGE 42 Deus ex machina Deus ex machina – god from the machine • Refers to ancient Greek theater • A god is mechanically brought on stage to resolve the plot • The hero is saved from doom • Viewed negatively • Strains suspension of belief

  12. Interactive Notebook PAGE 43 Eucatastrophe Eucatastrophe: good catastrophe • Greek eu (good) and catastrophe (destruction) • More than a happy ending • It is a sudden, joyous “turn” in the story (no true end to a fairy-story). • It is a miraculous grace, never to be counted on to recur. • Does not deny the existence of sorrow and failure • Does deny a universal final defeat, giving a fleeting glimpse of Joy.

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