Where did beorn and Radagast meet? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

R.R.J Tolkien · 01-19-2021, 07:55 PM

Beorn said radagast was not bad for a wizard, so they must have met, but where?

Kuruharan · 01-19-2021, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R.R.J Tolkien

Beorn said radagast was not bad for a wizard, so they must have met, but where?

We can't know for sure.

They lived in the same general neighborhood for a long time so any number of places in western Mirkwood or the Anduin valley are possible.

Huinesoron · 01-20-2021, 03:48 AM

Purest speculation, but given that we know of Radagast that he "became enamoured of the many beasts and birds that dwelt in Middle-earth, and forsook Elves and Men, and spent his days among wild creatures," it's entirely possible they only met while Beorn was a bear. I wouldn't go so far as to suggest Radagast didn't know he was also human, but the reason they got on might be that the wizard thought of him as a beast first and foremost.

Even more speculative: the idea of an immortal hermit who cares for all animals is pretty common in fiction (Medwyn of Prydain was my first thought, but I ran across another instance in, of all things, Terry Pratchett's Carpet People recently), and I suspect it has mythic origins. Radagast would fit neatly into this category - the movies do so (hi Sebastian) - and so it would be plausible that Beorn was drawn to him after being injured in some way. Quite what could wound the Great Bear that badly, I'm not sure - though there were sorcerous powers at work in Dol Guldur...

...

Okay, no, I'm not writing a story about Radagast healing Beorn of a Morgul-wound. I refuse.

hS

Inziladun · 01-20-2021, 10:20 AM

I'm inclined to agree with Kuru.

Probably just the nearness of Rhosgobel to Beorn would be enough to assure likely contact.
Also, presumably Radagast had made an abode there for quite some time, so Beorn's predecessors could have known of him as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huinesoron

Okay, no, I'm not writing a story about Radagast healing Beorn of a Morgul-wound. I refuse.

If you were doing that, you may as well go whole-hog and have Radagast be a forest-dwelling hippie riding on giant rabbits. (*cough*)

Galadriel55 · 01-20-2021, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

If you were doing that, you may as well go whole-hog and have Radagast be a forest-dwelling hippie riding on giant rabbits. (*cough*)

Look on the bright side. It could have been saber-toothed guinea pigs.

Morthoron · 01-20-2021, 05:25 PM

Starbucks. They met at a Starbucks. I'm sure there was one in Rhosgobel and another by Carrock. And another in Laketown. The only one that closed was in the Withered Heath. The franchise just couldn't stay profitable there.

Inziladun · 01-20-2021, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morthoron

The only one that closed was in the Withered Heath. The franchise just couldn't stay profitable there.

According to the Annals of Arabica, they made an impressive Worm-berry Frappuccino

Huinesoron · 01-21-2021, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

If you were doing that, you may as well go whole-hog and have Radagast be a forest-dwelling hippie riding on giant rabbits. (*cough*)

"Upon his greying head sat a wide-brimmed hat, and descending from it was a trail of bird poop; for this was Radagast the Brown, and birds used his head as a toilet." ~J.R.R. Tolkien, probably

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

According to the Annals of Arabica, they made an impressive Worm-berry Frappuccino

Bet that was popular with that one dwarf who practically drowned himself in coffee:

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hobbit: An Unexpected Party

Some called for ale, and some for porter, and one for coffee, and all of them for cakes; so the hobbit was kept very busy for a while.

A big jug of coffee had just been set in the hearth, the seed-cakes were gone...

Since the cakes were gone, I assume that's his second jug of the stuff...

hS

***Mithadan*** · 02-03-2021, 04:47 PM

When I saw the title of this thread, I knew I would be laughing before I finished reading...

Mithalwen · 02-05-2021, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Starbucks. They met at a Starbucks. I'm sure there was one in Rhosgobel and another by Carrock. And another in Laketown. The only one that closed was in the Withered Heath. The franchise just couldn't stay profitable there.

No, no, no. They met in the pub. The ancient Pub name “The bear and ragged staff “ is evidence of this being a corruption of Beorn and Radagast’s staff”. The bear and Ragged Staff is also the crest of the county of Warwickshire. Tolkien grew up in Warwickshire. Tolkien likes pubs. It is all symbolic and a code indicating the origins of Tom Bombadil and the location of the Enwives and who Gil-galad’s daddy really was. But it is SECRET so I can’t tell you and only I have noticed.*nods wisely*

James the Just · 01-27-2022, 03:11 PM

In the real world Beorn once lived in the Elm hills, which is north of the Harz mountains in Lower Saxony, Germany.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elm_(hills)

Radagast dwelt in Rhosgobel, near the Old Forest Road. Today this place is a small town named Radegast in Saxony-Anhalt., Germany

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radegast

Take a Tolkien Tour on the European Long Distance Paths and see it yourself.

01-19-2021, 07:55 PM	#1
R.R.J Tolkien Wight Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 156	Where did beorn and Radagast meet? Beorn said radagast was not bad for a wizard, so they must have met, but where? __________________ “I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but size). I like gardens, trees and unmechanized farmlands; I smoke a pipe, and like good plain food...I am fond of mushrooms.” -J.R.R Tolkien

01-20-2021, 05:25 PM	#6
Morthoron Curmudgeonly Wordwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits Posts: 2,509	Starbucks. They met at a Starbucks. I'm sure there was one in Rhosgobel and another by Carrock. And another in Laketown. The only one that closed was in the Withered Heath. The franchise just couldn't stay profitable there. __________________ And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.

02-03-2021, 04:47 PM	#9
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,374	When I saw the title of this thread, I knew I would be laughing before I finished reading... __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.

01-20-2021, 03:48 AM	#3
Huinesoron Overshadowed Eagle Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: The north-west of the Old World, east of the Sea Posts: 3,902	Purest speculation, but given that we know of Radagast that he "became enamoured of the many beasts and birds that dwelt in Middle-earth, and forsook Elves and Men, and spent his days among wild creatures," it's entirely possible they only met while Beorn was a bear. I wouldn't go so far as to suggest Radagast didn't know he was also human, but the reason they got on might be that the wizard thought of him as a beast first and foremost. Even more speculative: the idea of an immortal hermit who cares for all animals is pretty common in fiction (Medwyn of Prydain was my first thought, but I ran across another instance in, of all things, Terry Pratchett's Carpet People recently), and I suspect it has mythic origins. Radagast would fit neatly into this category - the movies do so (hi Sebastian) - and so it would be plausible that Beorn was drawn to him after being injured in some way. Quite what could wound the Great Bear that badly, I'm not sure - though there were sorcerous powers at work in Dol Guldur... ... Okay, no, I'm not writing a story about Radagast healing Beorn of a Morgul-wound. I refuse. hS

01-27-2022, 03:11 PM	#11
James the Just Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 19	In the real world Beorn once lived in the Elm hills, which is north of the Harz mountains in Lower Saxony, Germany. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elm_(hills) Radagast dwelt in Rhosgobel, near the Old Forest Road. Today this place is a small town named Radegast in Saxony-Anhalt., Germany https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radegast Take a Tolkien Tour on the European Long Distance Paths and see it yourself.