12 years after Grendel first attacked Herot.
Grendel attacks whenever the Danes had a celebration in Hrothgar's mead hall, Heorot. He did so for twelve years before Beowulf arrived.
The first night Beowulf was there. It was during the night when everyone was sleeping.
Sometime in the early 5th or 6th century.
12 years
Yes, Beowulf pretended to sleep to lure Grendel into attacking him, as Grendel was known to attack while people were sleeping. This strategic move allowed Beowulf to surprise Grendel and gain the upper hand in their battle.
Grendel attacks for 12 winters in the epic poem "Beowulf".
Beowulf uses Hrunting to attack Grendel's mother because it is a sword that he was given by Unferth, a warrior in Hrothgar's court. Despite Hrunting being a well-crafted weapon, it ultimately fails to penetrate Grendel's mother's skin, leading Beowulf to later rely on his own strength and a magical sword found in her lair to defeat her.
Grendel killed one of Beowulf's men before trying to attack Beowulf himself. He suprised Grendel with a strong choke-hold. While fighting, they damaged the mead-hall extensively and Beowulf pulled Grendel's arm from his socket. The arm acted as another trophy for the mead-hall. Grendel killed many more of Hrothgar's men.
Grendel greets Beowulf as a dear long-lost brother kinsman-thane because he is trying to deceive Beowulf and gain his trust. Grendel's intention is to lure Beowulf closer so he can attack him when he least expects it. It is a tactic to catch Beowulf off guard and take advantage of the situation.
He dies in the sea-cave lair of his mother. The open wound of his armless shoulder leads the Danes and the Geats with Beowulf to the spot, but they do not actually see the body at that time. Only after the second attack on Heorot does Beowulf find Grendel's body, at which point (presumably not longer protected by his charms as in life) Beowulf cuts off Grendel's head and returns with it to Heorot.
In Beowulf, the Danes irritate Grendel by celebrating loudly in the mead hall Heorot every night. Grendel, who is a creature of darkness, cannot stand the noise and the joyous festivities of the humans, causing him to attack the hall and kill its inhabitants.
Illusion lures Grendel into thinking he is invincible, leading him to let down his guard. Beowulf's words of challenge provoke Grendel's pride and anger, enticing him to attack. In the end, the combination of illusion and words set the stage for Beowulf to overpower and slay Grendel.
Beowulf kills Grendel to protect the people of Heorot and prove his strength as a hero. Grendel had been terrorizing the Danes by attacking them in their mead hall, and Beowulf comes to their aid to rid them of this menace. It is also a way for Beowulf to gain fame and honor as a great warrior.
Grendel does not attack the throne in the story of Beowulf because his rage is primarily directed towards the warriors in the mead hall, who disturb his peace. The throne is not his target as it does not provoke the same animosity within him as the men who occupy the hall.
Grendel's mother attacks the Danes in retaliation for the death of her son, Grendel, who was killed by Beowulf. She seeks vengeance for the harm done to her family and to protect her own kind from further harm. Her attack is driven by a desire for retribution and the instinct to protect her own.
In the book Grendel mother came to avenge his death by taking hrothgars best friend and killing him. In the movie she avenged grendel's Death by killing Beowolf's soldiers that he brought with him