Why do you think Grendel hates Heorot?

Answer 1

This is an interesting question with multiple answers.

According to the text, Grendel attacks the mead-hall after nightfall, when its inhabitants are asleep, snatches thirty or so of them, and then feasts upon them in his home.

I think it's likely that Grendel has no other motive: he attacks for food alone. Lots of predators that we are familiar with are night-going (cats, snakes, wolves, and owls, to name a few), because that is when their prey is asleep and open to attack.

With so much prey sleeping in one place, such as Heorot, it would be silly for Grendel to not take advantage of the opportunity and attack, as a man-eating predator.

There's also a 70's novel called Grendel that tells the story from Grendel's point of view. In this, he attacks while the scops are singing because they tell the story of Cain, the story of where Grendel's ancestry came from. He has no sympathy for the humans he eats because he observes how hypocritical they are, and how cruel they are to each other.

Personally I think the whole Cain thing is a insert by the monk who wrote it down in an attempt to Christianize the story, but the interpretation is still valid if you choose to take faithfully what was written down.

Answer 2

Grendel hates Heorot because he is envious of the joy and celebration that takes place there. He is also tormented by the sounds of music and laughter that remind him of his loneliness and exclusion from human society. Additionally, Grendel is angered by the boastful behavior of the warriors in Heorot, which fuels his feelings of resentment and bitterness.

Answer 3

It seems as though Grendel was excessively envious of the people laughing and celebrating in the great hall of Heorot. His jealousy overwhelmed him and he would attack and even devour some of the people inside.

Answer 4

grendel is hungry, I think

Answer 5

the disturbance created by the people