This is the fifth in the series of prompts for creative projects that you might want to submit to the anthology of hope.

Previous post Full list Next post

J.R.R Tolkein introduced the word eucatastrophe to describe when things that have been going badly suddenly and unexpectedly turn out well. It’s the opposite of a catastrophe and it turns up a lot in myths and epic story telling. Our heroes will be in a terrible position, their castle will be surrounded by superior forces, or maybe their ship has sunk leaving them on an inadequate raft miles from land, or perhaps they are imprisoned by the evil forces and believe that their quest companions have all been killed. There is a point when there seems no point in trying any more, no chance of success and no hope for the things that matter but our heroes keep on trying to survive anyway. Something keeps them going just enough to stay alive. Maybe the support of a companion, or memories of happier times, a promise made long ago or sheer bloody mindedness.

Then it comes, the sound of an allies horn to the north, or the tiny spec of a sail in the distance, or the scrape of stone as a secret passage opens into the dungeon revealing a lost companion and a new ally. Hope is rekindled and our story is off again.

Telling this kind of story is a great way to explore the theme of hope. It could be as a short story, a ballad or an epic poem or maybe a series of cartoons or an excert from a graphic novel? Could you create a portrait showing our main character’s expression as they realise that all is not lost? I’d love to feature what you produce in the book

More on using in your work eucatastrophes tomorrow.

This is the fifth in the series of prompts for creative projects that you might want to submit to the anthology of hope.

Previous full list Next

You can find the details on how to submit work to the anthology here: