# The Bears — The Wood Beyond the World character guide

> The Bears in The Wood Beyond the World by William Morris.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0025-xxvi-they-come-to-the-folk-of-the-bears

## Snapshot

A tribe of huge, half-wild men who call themselves the children of the Bear and gather in a Doom-ring to judge whatever strangers wander into their dale.

## Who they are

They are manlike in body but taller and bigger than most men, spread wide behind the mountains, and reckoned miscreants by the hermit for trowing neither in God nor his hallows — though they worship a certain woman with mickle worship. Their elder receives Walter and the Maid courteously, offers them curds and milk at the fire, and yet sets four armed men across the booth door, so that the two must count themselves captives even as they are guests. Their Doom-ring, where the whole folk must assemble before any errand is heard, is the trial that tests the Maid's nerve and Walter's standing in the strange land.

## Relationships

### [The Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_maid)

_friendship_

The Bears are loyal animal companions to the Maid, protecting her and showing affection.

### [The Old Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_old_man)

_friendship_

The Bears are friendly toward the Old Man, recognizing him as an ally of the Maid.

### [The Old Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_old_man)

_friendship_

The Bears are friendly toward the Old Man, recognizing him as an ally of the Maid.

### [The Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_maid)

_friendship_

The Bears are loyal animal companions to the Maid, protecting her and showing affection.

## In the story

### [Morning Amongst the Bears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxvii-morning-amongst-the-bears)

Mentioned as gathering in the Dale and preparing a burnt-offering at the Doom-ring; they are the folk among whom Walter and the Maid find themselves.

### [XXVIII: Of the New God of the Bears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxviii-of-the-new-god-of-the-bears)

The huge men of the Southern Dales who initially threaten the Maid and Walter, but after the miracle shout, smite their shields, and worship the Maid as their god.

### [XXIX: Walter Strays in the Pass and Is Sundered from the Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxix-walter-strays-in-the-pass-and-is-sundered-from-the-maid)

The Bear-folk accompany Walter and the Maid, receive her blessing, and return home.

### [XXXVI: Of Walter and the Maid in the Days of the Kingship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxvi-of-walter-and-the-maid-in-the-days-of-the-kingship)

Receive the Maid's gift of husbandmen and learn agriculture; they later become mighty in battle.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_bears
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters