The Life of Beorn and the Skin-changers | Tolkien Explained

[@NerdoftheRings]

*Apologies for my voice in this one. Been fighting a bit of a sinus bug. Do you think Beorn was the only one of his kind left at the time of the Hobbit like in the films? Or do you think there were more skin-changers in the world?

[@Roshan-sb8mh]

Don't worry take rest thanks for even making this video!

[@dannyboy5578]

I think that there may have been more, and that, though we don't hear it, that they fought saurons hosts, delaying them and weakening them. They may have also fought Morgoth, or have been created by Orome-the valarian hunter

[@dannyboy5578]

Don't worry about your voice, but I hope you recover soon

[@garytwinem5275]

Fangorn is old. Maybe some vestiges of Beorn's race could have sought refuge in its depths in times past.

[@drplantboss9281]

Get well soon! You still did a great job with this video, so rest up and don't feel too bad.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

I feel like Beorn is one of the loneliest characters in Middle Earth. For years he was the last remaining member of his kind, living in exile from his true home. Yet he kept his golden heart. 💛🐻

[@rothbardfreedom]

Together with the Ents, the loneliest for sure

[@thedarknesscallingme]

The films claim that he is the last, the book however never specifies that he is the last of his people but the impression is given that there are very few still alive by the time Thorin's company come to his hall.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

@@thedarknesscallingme much like with many things in Tolkien's lore it's left to our imagination. Beorn could be the last Skin changer or there could be still some left.

[@Frood4]

@@rothbardfreedom gollum was pretty lonely.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

@@Frood4 but he chose to be alone, unlike the Ents and Beorn.

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

The Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt portrays Beorn in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and in its sequel The Battle of the Five Armies. In the DVD commentary, the production team explain that they normally ensured that all characters had accents from the British Isles, but they made a exception for Beorn by letting Persbrandt use his natural Swedish accent. They reasoned that Beorn should have a distinctive and foreign-sounding accent, since he is the last survivor of an isolated race. Jackson stated that many actors were auditioned for the role, but that Persbrandt captured Beorn's primitive energy. Richard Armitage, who played Thorin Oakenshield, said that Persbrandt had a fantastic voice, and that his accent was perfect for the role.

[@Marinealver]

One of the few things they did right. But the rest was yeah, 🗑

[@JackRabbit002]

Oh that's pretty interesting man Thing is I don't think I actually acknowledged his accent much though But I will say as someone from the Midlands in the British Isles most Scandanvians actually sound more English than what I do Lol I do not speak the same way as written on paper, which use to annoy my Polish ex Lol

[@victorcoleman949]

I like the movie but they totally failed on their portrayal of Beorn...

[@Maphew_]

@@victorcoleman949 I agree. It felt like a missed opportunity to portray an awesome character.

[@k.t.1641]

He looked horrible and acted bland. One of the biggest thing I was looking forward to and just ended up embarrassed after seeing him in the film. He wasnt intimidating at all. And prett scrawny. Who looks at that and signs off on it? Those eyebrows especially 😆 Can't take it seriously

[@Obsidianen]

I always felt that Beorn is to the animals of Middleearth, what the Ents are to Fangorn. Their protector born from the land to protect the animals of the land.

[@chimera916]

There's a fun fact about the skinchangers protectors of animals. The werewolves, demonised by christians, were once the wehr volves, wich means the protector wolves. They were a kind of positive natural spirit.

[@phoule76]

A word to the wise: do not refer to Beorn himself as "Honeycakes".

[@Silent_Speaker]

I did that once I regreted it almost instantly

[@mcfarvo]

Tom Bombadil could, whether in greeting or song

[@medleysa]

Beorn is the OG Mama Bear. -has a clean and welcoming home -famous for baking -known for eating sweets like honey and cream -has several dogs and horses, but treats them like people -takes care of those he likes -ferociously fights off any threat to his “children” -passively-aggressively doesn’t like unexpected company

[@newtonia-uo4889]

No idea where he got that beorm doesn't eat meat

[@medleysa]

@@newtonia-uo4889 from the Hobbit: “As a man he keeps cattle and horses which are nearly as marvellous as himself. They work for him and talk to him. He does not eat them; neither does he hunt or eat wild animals. He keeps hives and hives of great fierce bees, and lives most on cream and honey."

[@newtonia-uo4889]

@@medleysa oh thanks!

[@medleysa]

@@newtonia-uo4889 no problem!

[@goldman77700]

@@medleysa Living off cream and honey? Now that's a bearry sweet life.

[@bergerdrum]

Yet another example of Tolkien's linguistic genius. Not only does he form a character around Norse language, but also, in Beorn's part in the Battle of the Five Armies, he perfectly describes a Norse warrior clad in a bear skin, fighting in "berserkr" mode. Tolkien's world and his writing were just so DEEP.

[@user-PaulSean]

Finally someone with a clue.

[@Amesang]

A grizzled man who barely got any "screen" time; a lore video sounds a good way to spend the day indoors away from the snow. ❤

[@bawling]

Beorn has always been my favorite Tolkien character. The way Tolkien describes Beorn's Hall manages to transport me every time, such a magical chapter 🐻

[@ramshacklerozza]

It would’ve been so much better to have Thorin and Beorn fight Azog and Bolg together rather than Legolas taking Bolg for no reason, just like how he had no reason to be in the movie. Having Beorn assisting a dwarf in battle would really build upon his previous quote: “I don't like dwarves. They are greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than themselves... But orcs, I hate more”

[@shar3066]

So its basically a swede who says jews are greedy but russians are worse. 😂 That just makes sense you know.

[@Telcontar86]

It's absolutely unforgivable how Beorn's role in the Battle of Five Armies was cut from the film version. If I hadn't been watching it with my sister for her birthday I'm pretty sure I would've walked out. Never mind the myriad of other issues with the third film in the hobbit trilogy, but that was the final straw for me

[@matthewanderson9754]

Agreed!!!!

[@vintage1950]

agree. It was a split second. It was almost pointless.

[@1Korlash]

This. After they removed the Wargs and made Thranduil a dick and the Lakemen into wusses I was desperately hoping we'd at least get Beorn's epic charge through the goblin army. That would've been a far better use of screen time than watching Gandalf hit on Galadriel. (She's happily married WTF?!)

[@Looptydude]

Man this was my biggest disappointment with the movies, Beorn was easily my favorite character from the book. Funny enough it was my little sister that took me to all the movies for my birthday every year and I was her big brother bear, and I hoped the movies would do him justice and they failed :/

[@MrRyguy2112]

Yes!! If they followed the text to the letter it would have been an amazing visual scene in the battle. They had already muddied the waters with Azog being the main villain instead of Bolg.

[@Nogdog945]

I wanna say he did not like the dwarves for their dwellings end dealings of the mines of Moria and the misty mountains in general. Feeling it was not there’s for the claiming, and also digging far too deep and awakening the balrog when it was just fine asleep deep within the earth already and unleashing such a monstrosity

[@nugget_man5142]

Beorn is one of the most strange characters ever and i would say he is definately one of my favorite characters cause he is very much like an anti hero but a hero at the same time

[@hellomate639]

I just love Beorn, honestly. He's pure hero to me, not anti hero for me at all.

[@valentinom.4292]

@@hellomate639 he's just a little bit rude

[@ChiaraSiasat]

Love this video! I wish we saw more of Beorn in the books. He’s such an underrated character. I would have loved to see the animals serving Bilbo and company in the movies. Such dedication for putting up this video even though you’ve been sick!

[@NerdoftheRings]

I would've LOVED to see more Beorn in the Hobbit films. I was supremely disappointed by his lack of screen time, even in the Extended Edition of BOTFA especially. I thought the way they invented a history between Beorn and Azog was actually really good - but it didn't pay off in any way whatsoever. He basically made a cameo in the 3rd film, which is really unfortunate. I could go on for hours (and maybe some day I will) on all the changes I would've like to see in the Hobbit trilogy.

[@kyleny8010]

@@NerdoftheRings You should definitely do that

[@FrancistheBrave]

Wait bilbo and company didn't get served by the animals at beorn place in the movie?

[@rosvlinds]

Beorn and Tom Bombadil are among my top favorite characters of any fantasy series, they just have that good vibe

[@harvtimetoit]

I always wanted to know more about Beorn.

[@thekillers1stfan]

1:20 this is such an incredible piece of artwork, they all are obviously great but this one in particular is just so good

[@alexanderschwab6408]

Love how ”Beorn” is really similar to the swedish word ”Björn” literally meaning Bear. Also- ”Juul/juultide” or how you call it (the festival) is also really similar to the words ”Jul” and ”Juletid”. These meaning ”Christmas” and ”Christmastime”. Tolkien sure loved us Scandinavians huh Edit: I also noticed ”Wargs”… guess what we say for Wolves? ”Vargar” xD

[@Beorneofmercia449]

after all Beorn is eald ænglisc/old english for bear.

[@hellomate639]

Lord of the Rings in general is very heavily influenced by Scandinavian folklore in particular.

[@irishakita]

he worked with Old English. He based the Rohirrim on the Anglo-Saxons and the northmen of Rhovanion (around where Beorn is) on the Scandinavians

[@user-PaulSean]

Scandinavians/ Angles / Saxons shared the same Germanic culture. As well as other Germanic cultures. I don't think it was just Scandinavians he had a preference. It belongs to all of us of English/German / Scandinavian cultures and languages.

[@MissGimpsAlot]

I was *SO* disappointed in how little we got of him in the movie battle....

[@armithel3133]

Of all the tales of the Middle-Earth, the stories of Beorn are the most heart to my ears, I get chills when I imagine the strength and ferocity of the bear-men wrecking the forces of orcs and goblins and foul wolves of the Armies that came at that time. Something so fulfilling hearing such an immense/giant/tremendous man-creature of tamed peace and willful transpose, an individual that doesnt eat meat but instead sweet bee-honey, fighting for the greatest cause of all the smaller fuzzy-toes beings of the Earth. I always get a little sad when I realize Beorns tale seemed so short and untold, even more sad when I remember the film adapations did the opposite of justice to the character in my opinion. As always though, thank you for the wonderful imaginative stories Nerd of the Rings

[@hellomate639]

I feel like Beorn is my most relatable character. I used to be vegan, and yet I am a big guy who is ferocious and protective. I've always felt like if there was anything to spirit animals, bear would be it for me.

[@frenchroast1355]

Can you imagine even a small army of pissed off bears? Kinda leads me to believe there were but a handful left if not Beorn alone. I'm trying to imagine how such a race was driven from anywhere by orcs and goblins. There couldn't have been many to begin with.

[@elijahoconnell]

well we could explain it in case they were somewhat numerous with the explanation of bear behaviour itself- you can have a lot in an area but they tend to prefer to be isolated. so perhaps they were easy to pick off?

[@masansr]

Can't imagine there is much to eat in the mountains to sustain a large population of vegetarian men, who can't hunt and there isn't enough fertile land.

[@dannyv161]

They threw a party when they found out Gandalf killed the great Goblin ,dancing slowly at night outside of Beorns house

[@elijahoconnell]

@@masansr admittedly the bears in my region hover a lil under 200lbs and sometimes over 300lbs in my region and im assuming beornings on the lower end would be around there and would by and large be bigger than any of my bears so fair point also not saying there was a large population of beornings before the hobbit definitively in the slightest, what i am saying however is that real life bear behaviour could be a model to go off of with the beornings if that were the case. also also we just know that beorn alone is vegetarian not necessarily any potential cohorts or peers

[@Gwilfawe]

@@elijahoconnell are these black bears in your region or Grizzlies or some other subspecies of bear? This is an interesting one to come out for me right now because I'm in the final 44 pages of a book by Douglas peacock called -Grizzly Years. Fascinating book really. Almost as good as Tolkien. Hah! ... okay maybe not quite that good.

[@timmeinshausen6060]

This passage in the book is the single most exhilarating battle scene I have ever had the pleasure of reading! So incredibly heroic and epic! He "broke like a clap of thunder through the ring"!! He scattered the body guard of bolg!! AAAHHHHH!!!! I wanted to see that part so badly in the movies and they just did NOT do it justice!

[@DonBetong]

I just finished reading the Hobbit for my five year old girl. She said it was the best story she have ever heard. I love that book. In Swedish many of Tolkien‘s words are understandable. Beorn for example sounds like ”Björn” (bear).

[@NomadUrpagi]

Almost every story will be "best story she have ever heard" for a five year old. But yes, Hobbit is indeed a really good one. His naming Bjorn and Beorn is not a coincidence, he is a professor of philology and linguistics after all.

[@D0YA]

Another example: Midwinter festival known as Jul. Jul means Christmas in Swedish.

[@nitrowarrior-lj5ip]

That is so beautiful, reading a story to your young child 😢

[@saltedllama2759]

For people who seem baffled by The Hobbit films: Imagine a film based on a campier, more childish book than the hugely successful LotR movies that came before it. Now imagine the director of LotR saying that he "never wanted to direct a big project like that again", so the studio hired a completely different director. Then two companies fight over the rights of the films for so long, that the newly hired director leaves. Then, right before filming, the studio decides they want two movies - which admittedly makes sense based on how the book reads (and no, "LotR was 3 movies for 3 books, so The Hobbit should be 1 movie for 1 book" is NOT a valid or even logical argument), but again, the LotR director doesn't want to do it. Finally the studio twists his arm to do it, but unlike LotR, instead of having 3 years of preparation, mock-ups, re-writes, storyboards, miniatures, brand new passion for a project no one has tackled before, etc, before the first shots are even filmed, he's got less than 3 months and literally wings the entire thing. Then once filming begins, the studio tells him he has to stretch it out into three movies. A few months in, he falls violently ill and everything is halted and rearranged; once healthy again, he rushes to complete it because the studio puts him on a very restrictive deadline. Oh, and all the while, they are using experimental filming methods with entirely new technology. That's what happened with The Hobbit trilogy. As to how "anyone could sign off on it": the studio knew it would make heaps of money regardless of how it turned out. I doubt Peter himself was thrilled with the result, but he also isn't going to throw it under the bus.

[@yamatokira4335]

This explains a lot. Thanks 🤔

[@pedrolopez8057]

@@yamatokira4335 read the book, it is very different but a gem of a story.

[@nushnum]

I always thought Beorn was always an interesting character. Great video!

[@Luinedhel]

Beorn always struck me like a thing Tolkien added into the hobbit, and then didn't truly know how to fit into middle earth's lore when it was more fixed, by the time of LoTR

[@AnnaMarianne]

Yes, but things like Beorn and Tom Bombadil make the world feel more real and alive, precisely because they escape definition. Makes it feel more organic.

[@Luinedhel]

@@AnnaMarianne no doubt! Just pointing that out.

[@nunya___]

@@AnnaMarianne Ya, they give the world depth, complexity and inexplicitly.

[@nunya___]

Maybe, but I think he intended that. Just a bit of mystery.

[@alstjrqkr689]

Little chaos makes it fell so much alive.

[@kyleloew432]

One of my top favorite Tolkien characters, great video.

[@thebeastjs]

Beorn is my favorite character in Tolkiens amazing world. Mysterious, monsterous, dangerous and still gold heartet.

[@pentegarn1]

Since shape changer's origins are never mentioned in the Silmarillion....I always thought to myself that he was originally one of the Blue Wizards. He has powers. He obviously knows Gandalf and did not attack the dwarves when they came. Like Radagast he seems to have just found his own reasons for staying in middle earth which didn't have much to do with his original mission. I often wonder if he really didn't die....but returned to Aman like Gandalf did.

[@45Racing5]

I've always been interested in the Skin-changers

[@stevennielsen7328]

My wife and I came across your channel a couple of weeks ago and we have been loving it. We would both really like you to do a what if video on what if Faramir had gone to Rivendall.

[@Captain-Flindt]

For me, Beorn returned to the misty mountains and lived there for a great many years.. I think and hope that Beorn/beornings get very very old.

[@gustavosolervidal5482]

Nice. I enjoy all of your videos. I'd like to request a video about many of the mysterious elements of middle-earth of which there's little information. Such as the stone of erech. Thanks!

[@marinhrabric6162]

Beorn and the Beornings are some of the best parts of the lore. Thank you for this fantastic, detailed video. This hyped me even more to play Lotro after work.

[@Lord-Emperor-Vader]

Is there anyone that Tolkien created (besides Ilúvatar) that could change the nature of the one ring itself because they are far more powerful then Sauron. If not how would the ring effect the classes above Sauron.

[@HallimarRathlornStudios]

I hope this becomes a video.

[@Arvendui1]

My gut says probably not (the Valar are bound to the world and couldn't recreate the Two Trees for example. However if there is someone who can then the most likely answer to your question is Aulë - he was the original blacksmith among the Valar (creating the Dwarves among many other things) and the original Elves learned much of their craft from him. He would know more about the nature of manufactured objects of power than anyone else.

[@josuesolisgamboa]

i think Tolkien wrote something about this in his letters

[@christopherbacon1077]

I think that it's hinted that Tom Bombadil might but wouldn't care enough to try

[@jangolub8240]

I wonder what Tom Bombadils reaction would be?

[@Fallenhalo88]

i felt skeptical when lord of the rings online added this race but after hearing this description I am much more ok with it.

[@janek7955]

Damn you always narrate the story so well that I almost always shed a tear

[@spektr540hemi]

Quite possibly my favorite individual in the stories. Long live the Bear Folk...their kin...and the other varieties of "Skin-Changers" not mentioned here...

[@Elistarielle]

Idk why but "...and Debbie" is hilarious. (Probably because I've hit the point of exhaustion where everything is hilarious).

[@lorcankelly8871]

Ooh always wanted to know more on them. Great work as always . Feel better soon

[@scottcrawford1104]

Beorn is a wonderful character. I love when Gandalf says “he is under no spell but his own.” I love your choice and taste of artwork. Any chance you could timestamp each piece in the descriptions?

[@asorbli]

Imagine 20 Beorns at the last alliance cooperating to destroy dozens of trolls and many more orcs and all of them to COMPLETELY tear Sauron apart in an epic bloodbath!!

[@asorbli]

He would be so terrified after that, so he would never even try to return!

[@_semih_]

I don't think he could even dare to approach Sauron in an open battle. His skin could have been burnt by Sauron. Also I'm not sure about Trolls versus Beornings because there were no trolls in the battle of the 5 armies...only a bunch of orc/goblin without a real leader. Trolls are more stronger than them in physical strength

[@_semih_]

@@asorbli p.s in the first age, Orodreth and the entire elven garrison of Minas-Tirith that saw the light of the trees in Valinor, had to fled in dismay ans fear when Sauron approached the tower alone. Even the elves of the Light, cannot stand against the dread of Sauron's dark presence. So the Beornings would retreat in dismay and fear if Sauron approach them

[@asorbli]

@@_semih_ I thought due to the facts that only one turned the tide in hobbit and that isildur was able to defeat sauron but that was presumebly because he wouldnt see him as a threat at all.

[@jankoscepanovic8513]

Another excellent video, as always. Your channel is really good and inspired me to go back and re-read Tolkien's work.

[@itayshorek6872]

this was amazinggggggggg every video you make is perfect! youre the best tolkien channel my friend. from start to end, the pictures, how long the quates are, the number of ads during the video.. youre the best!

[@gandalfolorin-kl3pj]

Nerd, once again, you take me back to those days of ME. Thanks so much. Namarie.

[@jbcrazy]

I am always thrilled to see original fantasy art and despise the pieces which depict actors from the films. Good content, the Hobbit is still fresh to me as I very recently re-read it.

[@venkelos6996]

This was fun! Beorn was a Hobbit character that I really liked, and even sort of ripped off for D&D. I had an NPC druid who turned into a mighty earth elemental, in bear shape, bur then got cursed to remain in that form, and driven insane. He was a big problem for a party to deal with. In part, I did this because I sort of wished for an evil Beorn. He was neat, and I'm glad he was Good, but that just felt likeca power some servant of Sauron should have, trying to mimic their master, as he could once shift between many forms, and was mighty. It would have been too bad for a Gondorian army if such a thing had happened to then, as happened to the goblins, and Sauron certainly didn't need the help, but it might have been cool, anyway.

[@kalleh6400]

Hmm 6:44 the Yule festival sounds almost exactly like Finnish/Swedish Christmas and in Finland we call it Joulu and in Sweden Jul and it was originaly celebrated as mid winters day so i wonder did Tolkien take more from our culture while creating Beorn. I do know he liked Kalevala.

[@dinogamingproductions4535]

I'm so glad this was made, he's such a unique character and his race even more so. I'm glad to know that his legacy was left to be something higher than himself, and I'm sure that's what he passed away knowing.

[@orfeas8]

One of your most beautiful videos that I loved so much to watch. You have an amazing channel. Thank you so much for what you do.

[@UnicornMeat512]

So many of these characters deserve their own books. It's a shame that Tolkien couldn't live a few hundred more years

[@DefectiveSquash]

So crazy you uploaded this today, re reading the hobbit, and thought NOTRs needs a video on Beorn. Thanks for reading my mind!

[@J_wikk_er_ink]

Really appreciate this essay. I would always choose to play a Beorning when roleplaying in Middle earth. Absolutely my favorite character in Tolkien's legendarium.

[@garrettgasser9727]

Very interesting, Beorn is one my all time favorite characters! I didn't realize there was a whole people who proceeded him; love your videos!

[@designq606]

Awesome video mate!!

[@stephanelegrand8181]

As Tom another enigmatic character of middle earth ! Thanks for the synthesis !

[@gicomaro9853]

I really love your narrations. It feels like I'm journeying again in Middle Earth 💓

[@JasperTheFriendlyGoth]

8:33 - his face makes the statement about not wanting to share honey cakes super funny.

[@technic5528]

Great vid!

[@Pickle136]

those artwork's with him in battle are amazing

[@annaroselarsen4218]

This is a perfect video for today my family have covid and I was feeling bored and needed something to pick up my spirit!

[@NerdoftheRings]

Glad I could lift your spirits today! Hope you all feel better soon!!

[@annaroselarsen4218]

@@NerdoftheRings Thankyou and u too!

[@mistymountainfolk2437]

One of my favorite characters in the trilogy, I guess one of many.

[@joeltrowe5155]

I alwasy was fascinated with Beorn and I hope we will see more of him or his kind in future movies or shows.

[@jordanarehart217]

My favorite Tolkein character, thanks!

[@Max88188]

I have been wondering about this character for a while. Thank you

[@stephensmith6599]

Thank you. My favorite character ... and I wish the Beorn's had been more fully explored by Mr. Tolkien.

[@shocked_shocked7703]

The battle art in this video is especially awesome.

[@philiphook5724]

I know this is a late comment but these videos are amazing I can't stop watching them please keep it up

[@AndrewCarlisle11B]

Great video Matt! I definitely prefer book Beorn over the film.

[@NerdoftheRings]

Same here. One of my biggest regrets was we didn’t get more Beorn in BOTFA.

[@AndrewCarlisle11B]

@@NerdoftheRings would have been awesome to see.

[@PainCheeZe]

Hands down my favorite character in the Hobbit. Closely followed by Radaghast the Brown. I always wondered if they were secretly buddies. I feel like they would have gotten along very well and would have loved to hear of their interactions. Great content! 🐻

[@wyattkloppers3445]

You finally did the video I wanted for so long

[@violatierwillbeprosecuted3392]

Great writing of a Stoic character! Glad to hear and see your interpretation and great art in your presentation! I would Hope they were many, within a hidden realm not yet recorded. Maybe even hidden alongside the Female Ent's and their offspring!

[@gdwolf7]

Mr. Tolkien has truly created a monumental fantasy!

[@HighGainsDrifter]

I remember watching the hobbit cartoon when I was a boy then getting into the book and realizing how much the cartoon left out and being blown away. Great video, man. Another fantasy setting i really enjoy is Dragonlance

[@jumper55ful]

As always you make my Saturday awesome, i love hearing about middle earth it just makes me feel so peaceful and happy and to get away and to get my imagination flowing of what middle earth would be like from the images you include to what also i etch out in my own mind and the many races and beings that inhabit it good and bad.

[@JMThought]

Thanks for making this, I remember requesting it last year. 😂 They fascinate me so much.

[@danielmcdivitt1334]

Brilliant video thank you

[@YPichtel]

Absolutely love all your videos, but this was an absolute favorite of mine now!

[@arathergrumpyturtle]

Beorn is such an interesting character that I think gives an insight into Tolkien's ethos. Beorn, I think, has two main inspirations from history. Firstly, the "berserkers" of old norse and possibly proto-norse and proto-germanic origin. Warriors who (maybe) were part of a bear cult who would venture into battle wearing bear skins (not the hats). Berserker literally means "bear-skin." Like this, Beorn (from the norse name Bjorn, meaning bear) takes on the skin of a bear in battle or just whenever he wants. It's said to be magical and the berserkers of old norse fame certainly may have believed the same. Second. The demeanor of Beorn is said to be caring and benevolent. He is a man living by himself in the wild. He also mostly eats honey and cream. This reminds me a lot of descriptions of St. John the Baptist. John the Baptist is also a wild man who "wears an animal skin" (although it's a camel skin) and it's said that he subsisted on locusts and wild honey. He is benevolent and later accrues a large group of followers much like Beorn's "Beornings." While the St. John the Baptist connection might be a stretch, It would really shed some light on Tolkien's understanding of the middle ages. The combination of heathen and Christian influences is about as medieval as it gets.

[@RJALEXANDER777]

I've never really looked at it like that before. Tolkien's world is indeed a fascinating blend of Christian and Pagan themes.

[@DiegoB0525]

This was a really nice video! I didn't know his background and I like him a lot more now. I honestly relate to him.

[@corbindallin8287]

You should make a "what if frodo and Sam didn't get distracted and ate the rabbit stew" love to hear your take on it.

[@meganfoster8838]

If Beorn had a skin-changing son, he must have also had a wife, and maybe other children. Now there's a bit of inspiration for some fun fanfiction!

[@mackanostboll3452]

i have watched you from 10k subs im glad you have grown on youtube and thanks for all of you wounderful videos

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks so much! You have indeed been around for some incredible days for the channel. It has been an amazing ride to now be nearing 500k. It will be like a huge party when we are knocking on the door of 1 Million!! Thanks for watching and subscribing and sticking with the channel!

[@manray5140]

You know, I was really looking forward to seeing Beorn fight in the Battle of the Five Armies, but instead we all got to see elf dwarf romance

[@TheGrayStage]

I love this channel and everything about it!

[@lennadunkums8969]

It's sounds like you're speaking a different language when your naming the supporters at the end lol great video! Always one of my favorite characters.

[@Proph3cy]

Shame Beorn joining the Battle of 5 Armies wasn’t in the movie. Would’ve been cool to see that

[@benburkin7942]

Love your videos, easy listening. Also, this has inspired an NPC character for my D&D campaign.

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks! Glad you are enjoying the channel and you could get some good D&D inspiration!

[@jamiegregg9211]

awesome vid Matt Beorns a very cool character

[@anthonyhanks1807]

It mostly could have been due to radagast, as we know after sauron was expelled from dolgol dur Gandalf warns him to summon all birds and beast to erebor to assist the drawves in the battle of five armies.

[@freshtea228]

He seems to me as a fusion of Tom Bombadil and the Elves. A wholesome person close to nature, but if you disturb his peace, he will destroy you or wait till he can, so that peace returns to his lands.

[@TiagoRamosVideos]

Fantastic vídeo, thanks 🙏

[@RobertoJuanSurMontana]

Absolutely has always been my favorite character in this world

[@Lord-Emperor-Vader]

If they defended the high pass wouldn't it be the safest pass over the Misty Mountains for the Fellowship they could then go through Mirkwood get help from the dwarves and elves then sneak into Mordor from the North. They could go back to the normal path but they would go past Dol Guldur which I am assuming they would want to avoid. I think another safe route would be to have the Eagles move the Fellowship to Lothlórien (obviously not being told of the one ring) and make it look like there were messages being sent between Lothlórien and Rivendell.

[@losttribe3001]

But then we wouldn’t have a good story of conflict, challenges and friends pulling together.

[@Lord-Emperor-Vader]

@@losttribe3001 In most stories there is a better way to go and I am just pointing out two.

[@mustafaozturk2542]

The one ring must stay hidden from the agents of Sauron. It is high secrecy needed mission. Even Elrond himself could carry it to Mordor and destroy it or he could just force Isildur to jump into a volcano and the threat would already end without starting. Let's say Elrond doesn't have the guts to push Isildur into the volcano, and allowed all of this to happen and why didn't he carry the ring to Mordor? Because Mordor would attack him the moment he get out from Rivendell.

[@mustafaozturk2542]

Also, Rİvendell is the same as Noldor in the first age against Melkor. A place for hope to dwindle and live on. Rivendell kept hidden from the agents of Sauron thanks to Beornings.

[@alexwilson1913]

Great video, and I love the stuff you produce. Here are some topical ideas I don’t think you have covered, if you are looking for suggestions. You could consider a series of videos discussing the natural world of Middle Earth. For instance, a video on the important forests and the events within them, further expanding to other videos covering the mountain ranges, the rivers, etc. I think it would be an interesting way to get another look at the world, but rather than focusing just on people, races or events, it focuses more on a specific part of the natural history and how the events of the given forest, mountain, river, etc., are a part of the full history.

[@morgoth6316]

Thank you for doing this one

[@Le_Petomane]

Im enjoying this video sitting in the sun, sheltered by under my Bay Awning.

[@kjo7256]

Great stories bud!!! Keep up the good work

[@justthinkingoutloud2538]

My theory about where the skin-changers come from is that the power of skin-changing is a learned art of sorcery passed down by the lines of warrior-chiefs among certain tribal groups in Rhovanion (and possibly beyond), and that those capable of it were feared and revered among their people, who they protected from the evil things of the wilds, but this ability dwindled over the years, until by the third age Beorn’s line was the last, living in the foothills of the misty mountains, and as we know, his people were completely wiped out by orcs, forcing him to flee east. This is by no means a serious problem in the context of the whole movie, but in The Battle of the Five Armies I felt Beorn’s arrival was totally glossed over. I suppose it was to not detract from the main characters’ actions, but all we see of him is his being carried by eagles and dropped into the battle like a human/bear cannon ball. Never glimpsed again and it’s only implied by the music that his arrival was supposed to be significant.

[@chrisgallagher85]

Great video - and thanks for sharing