Tolkien Gateway


This article is about the skin-changer. For the uncle of Eriol, see Beorn (son of Heden).
Lelia - Beorn.jpg
"Beorn" by Lelia
Biographical Information
LocationBeorn's Hall
AffiliationThorin and Company
DeathBefore the War of the Ring
Notable forbeing a Skin-changer
Physical Description
Hair colorBlack
ClothingWoollen tunic
GalleryImages of Beorn

Beorn was a Skin-changer, a man who could assume the form of a bear. He aided Thorin and Company during their Quest of Erebor.


[edit] History

Jef Murray - At the Carrock

His origins lay in the distant past, and Gandalf suspected he and his people had originally come from the mountains, until the Orcs of the Misty Mountains drove them away. He lived with his tame horses in a wooden house Beorn's Hall between the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood, to the east of the Great River of Wilderland.


During the Quest of Erebor, Beorn received Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins and the thirteen Dwarves and gave the Dwarves and Bilbo help in their quest.[1].

In the Battle of Five Armies, Beorn appeared transformed into a giant bear, rescued Thorin from the Goblins and killed their leader, Bolg.[2].

After Thorin's burial, Beorn followed Bilbo, Gandalf and Thranduil on their way back to the west. Beorn once more hosted Bilbo and Gandalf and other Woodmen who came to celebrate Yule.[2]

Eventually, he became a "great chief" in the Vales of Anduin, and it is said that his descendants also were skin-changers, able to take the shape of a bear.[2] His people became known as the Beornings,[3] and they helped defend Thranduil's kingdom of northern Mirkwood.[4][source?]. Beorn presumably died some time before the War of the Ring began[5] and was succeeded by his son Grimbeorn the Old.[6]

[edit] Character

Beorn was generally benevolent and hated goblins and wargs; but he was also a loner and distrustful of travelers and beggars. He was never polite, and became easily angry. He never invited people into his house and his very few friends, who lived a good way away, came no more than a couple to his house at a time. Added to this, Beorn was not fond of Dwarves. Although fierce to his enemies, once convinced of the others' goodwill, he was welcoming, generous and helpful. He did not eat any meat, as he could talk with his animals, who helped him. His grove was occupied by huge bees. Beorn's diet was mainly honey and cream.

[edit] Etymology


[edit] Genealogy

fl. T.A. 2941
fl. T.A. 3019

[edit] Other versions of the legendarium

In early manuscripts of The Hobbit, the name of the character that would become Beorn is Medwed. Medwed's ability to change shape to a bear was due to an enchantment, perhaps of his own.[10] The similarity between Medwed and Medved, the common Slavic word for "bear", is striking, but it is ultimately unknown if Tolkien had this in mind. But it should be noted that "medved" is a taboo word for "bear" and the literal sense of the word is "honey-eater" which is an apt description of Beorn's diet.


[edit] Inspiration



[edit] Portrayal in adaptations

Beorn in adaptations
Beorn in MECCG  
Beorn in bear form in The Hobbit (film series)  

1980: Der Hobbit (1980 German radio series):

Beorn is played by Martin Hirthe.

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Beorn is one of the Lords of the Beijabar (Beornings). His manor is called Muidwe Beorn.[14][15]

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

Beorn is a Character, with the Home Site Beorn's House.

2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):

In the GBA version, Beorn is visited after Thorin and Company depart from the Carrock. In the console and PC versions, Beorn appears only during the Battle of Five Armies and the ending cutscene, both times in the shape of a black bear.[16]

2012-14: The Hobbit (film series)

Mikael Persbrandt portrays Beorn.[17] In The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, while in bear form, he picks up on the Company's trail and chases them into his home. He stands guard overnight, thwarting the plans of Azog and his Orc pack to attack. The next morning, he lends the Company some of his horses in order to get to Mirkwood before the Orcs. In The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, he arrives with Radagast on the back of one of the Eagles late in the battle, and leaps down to the ground, transforming into his bear form in midair. Along with the rest of the Eagles, he helps decimate the remaining Orc army. He is also present during the funeral of Thorin, Fili and Kili.

2019: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Beorn makes a brief cameo in a flashback sequence where he saved a Woodmen child from Gollum the child-snatcher.

[edit] See also


  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Return Journey"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 352 (root BER-; cf. root BES-)
  12. 12.0 12.1 Tom Shippey, The Road to Middle-earth (second edition), pp. 73-4
  16. The Hobbit (2003 video game), "The Clouds Burst"
The Hobbit film series
Source material: The Hobbit · The Lord of the Rings
Video games Lego The Hobbit · Kingdoms of Middle-earth