Beorn Printable version

Beorn is the Chieftain of the Beornings. He is a Northman and a skin-changer who could transform into a huge black bear. Beorn was a warrior that had great strength. In human form, he was a black-haired man with a great beard. He was tall and had huge arms. Beorn lives by the Anduin River between the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood. He had many animals on his lands, such as sheep, dogs, and horses. It was noted that all the animals in his care showed high intelligence. For example, the dogs under his care could walk on their hind legs and carry items using their forelegs. The dogs were able to set the table and speak. His horses were also able to follow Beorn's commands. All this was because Beorn can easily communicate with animals as he speaks the tongue of beasts. The Beornings have been inhabiting Beorn's land for the last centuries of the Third Age as guardians of the Ford of Carrock, fending off attacks from Wargs and Goblins.​

In Ta 2941, Thorin and Company, Bilbo Baggins, and Gandalf seek refuge in Beorn's home while they were fleeing from the Goblins and Orcs. Beorn was known to not be fond of Dwarves, but he was humored by the story behind their quest. He provided them with food and supplies. Beorn even gave them some tips as they left to continue their travel through the Mirkwood Forest. Beorn warned them to stay away from the Enchanted stream that flows within the Mirkwood Forest. A few months later, word has spread about the conflict and chaos in the Lonely Mountain. Beorn decided to join the fight, and he arrived just in time to participate in the Battle of the Five Armies. Beorn was the one who carried Thorin away from the battlefield after he was seriously wounded. Beorn attacked the Goblin ranks to rescue Thorin from the Goblins. When Thorin was safe, he returned to slaughter the Goblins and kill Bolg to avenge Thorin. After the battle, Beorn left with Bilbo and Gandalf on their return journey. He allowed the two to stay at his place over the winter.​

A few years after the Battle of the Five Armies, Beorn became a leader and a great chieftain among the creatures and folk that resided between the Anduin river and the edges of Mirkwood in the Anduin Vales. It was an unpredictable outcome, considering how he preferred living in seclusion. Beorn was probably inspired by the role he played in the Battle of the Five Armies and in helping Thorin’s Company in their quest. Beorn's followers were known as the Beornings. Beorn soon had a son named Grimbeorn. Beorn passed away before the events of the War of the Ring. His son Grimbeorn took over his duties as chieftain. Grimbeon became known in Middle-earth History as Grimbeorn the Old.​

Beorn is known to have high respect for all life forms - except for Wargs and Goblins. This is because they have the tendency to be destructive and evil. With his knowledge of the tongue of the beasts, he always had a magical and soothing effect on the animals under his care. Beorn spends his nights patrolling the mountains and the woods as a great black bear. Beorn was known to be incredibly wise and powerful.​

The name "Beorn" was inspired by "beorn," an Old English term for man and warrior. "Beorn" is also a homophone of the Old Norse term "bjǫrn," which means "bear." The figure of Beorn can be related to Northern heroes such as Beowulf, Bodvar, and Bjarki. Tolkien may have gathered inspiration from these heroes when coming up with the character of Beorn.​

In Peter Jackson's The Hobbit Film Trilogy, the role of Beorn was given to actor Mikael Persbrandt. Beorn's personality in the movie is different from that of Beorn's personality in the book. JRR Tolkien described Beorn as an impatient and boisterous creature. In the film, Beorn was soft-spoken and actually calm and collected. It could also be noted that the appearance of the film's Beorn is very different from that described in the book. In the movies, Beorn has brownish-gray hair, a mane of hair growing on his back, a forked beard, and shackles on his left arm. In the movie, Beorn mentioned that there were a lot of Shape Shifters who resided in the mountains before. However, the arrival of Azog the Defiler from the north changed everything.

Azog killed and enslaved many of the Shape Shifters and hunted them for sport. Beorn shared that he was able to escape that terrible fate, which is why he has shackles on his arm. Beorn claims that he is probably the last of his kind. Beorn tells Gandalf that he is aware of a dark presence in Dol Guldur. He knows that the Orcs of Maria have an alliance with the Necromancer in Dol Guldur. He has spotted packs of Orcs gathering, and their numbers have increased each day.

Beorn suspects that the Necromancer is not what he seems to be as all foul and dark creatures are drawn to Dol Guldur. Beorn then asks Gandalf if it was true that there are tombs in the mountains as he has been hearing rumors of the dead rising and walking around the High Fells of Rhudaur. Gandalf confirms that the tombs are real. Beorn recollected the time when the necromancer, who had the power to raise the dead, once ruled the lands nearby. If that evil is back, he asked Gandalf to let him know.

Beorn lends his horses to Thorin and Company so that they can easily reach Mirkwood. Once they entered the forest, the horses were sent on their way home, back to Beorn. In the Battle of the Five Armies, the last movie of the Trilogy, Beorn only has a brief cameo during the battle scenes. You can see him transform from a man to a great black bear when he arrives on the battlefield along with the Great Eagles. He is later seen again at the funeral for Thorin, Kili, and Fili.​

In this 2003 video game, the initial encounter with Beorn was omitted from the game's storyline. Players are still able to see Beorn later on at the Battle of Five Armies where he kills Bolg. In the game, Beorn only appears in his bear form. [1]​

In this MMRPG game, players can have the option to play a male or female Beorning that can transform into a bear. Grimbeorn's lodge can be seen in the Vales of Anduin as a starting point for all Beorning classes. Grimbeorn himself makes a short appearance in the game. [3]​