| Angle | |
| Beorn | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Veran, Verain (Q) Beren (G) Bernus (Go) Bera(n) (OE)[1] |
| Location | Presumably Anglia[2] |
| Language | Old English |
| Death | 5th century AD[2] |
| Family | |
| Parentage | Heden |
| Siblings | Eoh |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
Beorn was a son of a Man named Heden, according to the early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales.[2]
Beorn was noted for the murder of his brother Eoh, the father of Eriol,[2] who died either "in the siege" of his town or "in a great battle".[3]
Many years later, Beorn himself was killed by Hengest and Horsa, Eoh's grandsons, in an act of vengeance.[3]
Etymology
The name Beorn is in Old English. It means "warrior", but its original meaning was "bear".[2]
Other names
Another variation of his name was (Gothic) Bernus, which was probably intended as a form of baírnus, a Gothic equivalent of the name, with Tolkien changing the spelling from aí to e.
In Qenya he was called Veran or Verain, with the name Beren being its Gnomish cognate.[1][note 1]
The name Veran itself was changed from Verus, an earlier name.[4]
Another (Old English) name for the character was Hasen of Isenóra ("iron shore").[5]
Genealogy
| Wóden[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Heden | Tulkastor | Valwë | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BEORN d. 5th century | Eoh d. 5th century | unknown sibling | Vairë | Lindo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cwén fl. 5th century | Eriol fl. 5th century | Naimi* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hengest fl. 5th century | Horsa fl. 5th century | Heorrenda fl. 5th century | Hendwine* fl. 5th century | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* The name of Hendwine's mother is not Naimi but Nelmir in the text on which the basis of his inclusion is founded upon - neither is her relation to Lindo and Vairë elaborated on.[4]
Other versions of the legendarium
In an early, rejected sketch, a more elaborate version of events is given, in which Beorn attacked his brother's castle and killed him, and took Eriol captive - from which Eriol eventually escaped.[6]
Notes
- ↑ The reading of Beren is uncertain. An alternative reading might be Berin instead.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Sí Qente Feanor and Other Elvish Writings", in Parma Eldalamberon XV (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), "Names and Required Alterations", Appendix, Text IX, pp. 16-7
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "I. The Cottage of Lost Play": "Notes and Commentary", pp. 23-4
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "VI. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales", outline 10, p. 290
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Sí Qente Feanor and Other Elvish Writings", in Parma Eldalamberon XV (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), "Names and Required Alterations", Appendix, Text X, p. 17
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "VI. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales", p. 291
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "VI. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales", p. 294