Beorn

Beorn is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium, most prominently featured in The Hobbit. He is a skin-changer who can transform between a man and a bear, a ability he uses to protect his land and those who earn his trust. Beorn lives in a large house on the edge of the wild, in a region between the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood, and he leads the Beornings, a small community noted for beekeeping and straightforward hospitality.

In The Hobbit, Beorn first encounters Bilbo Baggins and the company of dwarves after their dangerous escape from goblins. He provides food, shelter, and practical advice, and he lends them ponies for the journey to the Lonely Mountain. Beorn warns them about the perils of the forest of Mirkwood and the challenges that lie ahead, especially for travelers in unfamiliar territory. He is able to defend travelers and livestock through his bear form, and his actions help the party reach the next stage of their quest. After their stay, he grants them permission to pass and wishes them well, reinforcing his reputation as a cautious but benevolent host.

Beorn’s legacy within Tolkien’s world centers on the Beornings, a hardy people connected to the land and to bees. They are wary of outsiders but capable of trusted alliances with those who show respect. Beorn has appeared in various adaptations of The Hobbit, where his shapeshifting nature and hospitality are retained as central traits.