Beorn

Beorn is a character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium who appears in The Hobbit as a skin-changer capable of assuming the form of a great black bear. He is associated with the Beornings, a group of his descendants or kinsmen who inhabit the upper Vales of Anduin between Mirkwood and the Misty Mountains. These people are recognized as one of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth who stand against the forces of Sauron during the War of the Ring.

Drawing inspiration from legendary medieval heroes such as Beowulf and Bödvar Bjarki, Beorn embodies the spirit of Northern courage. This trait serves as a central virtue within Tolkien’s wider literary works, establishing Beorn as a significant figure of strength and resistance within the narrative.