The Beornings - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Rumil · 09-30-2003, 05:27 PM

I was interested by Saucepan man's quote from Aragorn, who refers to the 'Beornings of the Wood'. Does this mean that the Beornings are in fact the Woodmen? The Woodmen were the people living on the western edge of Mirkwood who were troubled by goblin attacks and occasionally took potshots at eagles, as is related in The Hobbit.

I remember reading one of the old MERP RPG supplements where they have Beorn as a sort of spiritual leader of the Beornings who lives in isolation from the rest of the people, a reasonable speculation I'd guess.

By the way their leader at the time of the War of the Ring was called Grimbeorn, who was a descendant of Beorn.

Orophin · 04-27-2004, 06:50 PM

I think that this might be one of Tolkien's biggest over sights. A gap in the story if you will. It is said in the lord of the rings that a race of men called the Boerning keep the area arounf the carrock safe for travelers and trading to come through and without them orcs would control the areas. But as Rumil has stated Beorn lives by himself in the Hobbit and know relatives are mentioned. THat does not mean that there arn't any it just means that we do not know of any. Maybe a race was created in 80 years and there just are not that many of them. Maybe they are a new race that is expanding and growing larger and that is why many people do not know that much about them. That's what I believe to be the most reasonable explanatio of the Beornings situation.

Lobelia · 04-27-2004, 09:21 PM

I think part of the problem here is that Tolkien, bless his heart, keeps forgetting that you need women as well as men to make descendants. He can't help it!

Remember his original list of seven (male) Dwarves - "the fathers of the fathers" put to sleep? Later, of course, he must have had this pointed out to him and added a mate for each (except Durin, who then inexplicably became an ancestor too). All those "fathers of the fathers of ..." without any mothers. So, somehow, that old bachelor were-bear Beorn, who seems to need only the company of his pets, became the ancestor of a sturdy "race" of Men. That's Tolkien for you.

I just suspend disbelief and remember Tolkien and his boys' club at Oxford. (g)

Voralphion · 04-27-2004, 09:29 PM

Quote:

(except Durin, who then inexplicably became an ancestor too

Durin must have married one of the daughters of one of the other seven dwarf fathers, (he did live a very long time, much longer than other dwarves), by that he was able to have descendents.

09-30-2003, 05:27 PM	#1
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 894	I was interested by Saucepan man's quote from Aragorn, who refers to the 'Beornings of the Wood'. Does this mean that the Beornings are in fact the Woodmen? The Woodmen were the people living on the western edge of Mirkwood who were troubled by goblin attacks and occasionally took potshots at eagles, as is related in The Hobbit. I remember reading one of the old MERP RPG supplements where they have Beorn as a sort of spiritual leader of the Beornings who lives in isolation from the rest of the people, a reasonable speculation I'd guess. By the way their leader at the time of the War of the Ring was called Grimbeorn, who was a descendant of Beorn. __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion

04-27-2004, 06:50 PM	#2
Orophin Animated Skeleton Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lothlorien Posts: 48	Thats quite a gap there I think that this might be one of Tolkien's biggest over sights. A gap in the story if you will. It is said in the lord of the rings that a race of men called the Boerning keep the area arounf the carrock safe for travelers and trading to come through and without them orcs would control the areas. But as Rumil has stated Beorn lives by himself in the Hobbit and know relatives are mentioned. THat does not mean that there arn't any it just means that we do not know of any. Maybe a race was created in 80 years and there just are not that many of them. Maybe they are a new race that is expanding and growing larger and that is why many people do not know that much about them. That's what I believe to be the most reasonable explanatio of the Beornings situation. __________________ Yrch!

04-27-2004, 09:21 PM	#3
Lobelia Wight Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 150	I think part of the problem here is that Tolkien, bless his heart, keeps forgetting that you need women as well as men to make descendants. He can't help it! Remember his original list of seven (male) Dwarves - "the fathers of the fathers" put to sleep? Later, of course, he must have had this pointed out to him and added a mate for each (except Durin, who then inexplicably became an ancestor too). All those "fathers of the fathers of ..." without any mothers. So, somehow, that old bachelor were-bear Beorn, who seems to need only the company of his pets, became the ancestor of a sturdy "race" of Men. That's Tolkien for you. I just suspend disbelief and remember Tolkien and his boys' club at Oxford. (g)