12 years
Grendel tormented Heorot for 12 years before Beowulf defeated him.
Herot is a mead hall in Beowulf, a famous Old English poem. In the story, Herot is attacked by the monster Grendel, who terrorizes the hall and its occupants for many years. Beowulf eventually arrives and defeats Grendel, bringing peace back to Herot.
After the feast at Herot, Grendel attacks the warriors in the hall at night, killing many of them. This cycle of attack and retaliation continues until Beowulf arrives to defeat Grendel.
Grendel's mother takes revenge for her son's death by killing one of Hrothgar's trusted advisors in Herot. She then takes Grendel's arm, which was hanging as a trophy in Herot, and retreats back to her underwater lair.
The warriors of Herot are celebrating and listening to the bard's song about the creation of the world. This angers Grendel and in his first attack he kills 30 sleeping men.
Grendel hated Herot because it was a place of joy, celebration, and community, which contrasted with his feelings of isolation and rejection. The sounds of laughter and music coming from Herot angered him, as he felt excluded and tormented by the happiness inside the hall.
Grendel terrorizes Hrothgar and his followers by attacking Heorot, the mead hall, every night for twelve years. He kills and eats many of Hrothgar's warriors, causing fear and despair among the people.
12 years after Grendel first attacked Herot.
The battle with Grendel has been going on for 12 years.
Grendel attacks the mead hall at Herot due to feelings of isolation, jealousy, and a sense of being excluded from human society. He is a descendant of Cain, cursed by God and lives a lonely existence away from human contact, leading to his violent outbursts.
On page 46, Grendel is described as a monstrous figure, descending from Cain who was cursed by God and living in a gruesome marsh. He is said to be troubling the Hrothgar's mead-hall, killing and devouring many of his warriors. Grendel is depicted as a menacing and terrifying creature that instills fear in the people of Herot.
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