Beorn is another character with fantastical powers, able to transform himself into a bear. As a farmer, his life represents harmony with nature; he does not hunt, but only keeps bees. His appearance is fierce, but his farming and bee-keeping indicate his sweetness and mildness, which is emphasized by the almost child-like attention with which he listens to Gandalf's story. As a bear, at night, however, he kills Goblins and Wargs, and the power of darkness represented by that nighttime transformation is so threatening that Gandalf warns Bilbo and the dwarves not to go outside the house till morning.
Beorn also fulfills a very practical function by providing the travelers with provisions and ponies for their journey to Mirkwood.
At the end of this chapter, the travelers' apprehension at going on alone, without Gandalf, is clear. There is a real question as to whether they will be able to survive the rest of the journey without his wisdom.
