Beorn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Beorn is also a genus of extinct tardigrades, see Beorn leggi.
[edit] In Tolkien's Legendarium
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Beorn was a shape-shifter, a man who could assume the appearance of a great black bear. He lived with his tame animals (horses, dogs and ponies among others) in a wooden house between the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood, to the east of the Anduin. His origins lay in the distant past, and Gandalf suspected he and his people had originally come from the mountains. He was on good terms with Radagast. The beornings are famous for their baking, especially honey cakes (a secret recipe).
Beorn named the Carrock and created the steps that led from its base to the flat top.
Although usually suspicious and distrustful of strangers, in The Hobbit, Beorn received Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins, and the thirteen Dwarves and aided them in their quest. In the Battle of Five Armies, Beorn rescued Thorin Oakenshield from the goblins and killed their leader Bolg.
Before the time of the War of the Ring, Beorn had become a leader of Men, including other shape-shifters, and woodsmen. His people were known as the Beornings, and they helped defend Thranduil's kingdom at northern Mirkwood. He died some time before the War of the Ring itself began, and was succeeded by his son Grimbeorn the Old.
Beorn does not appear in the Rankin-Bass animated adaptation of The Hobbit.
[edit] In Old English
Beorn is the Old English word for warrior (or freeman in Anglo-Saxon society), but was also a name used by nobleman (for it means nobleman). It is related to the Scandinavian names Björn (Swedish) and Bjørn (Norwegian and Danish), meaning bear. The word baron developed from Beorn.
