Grendel seized 30 thanes in his first attack on Heorot Hall.
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.
12 years after Grendel first attacked Herot.
There are a few reasons that Grendel attacks the men in the mead hall in Beowulf. For example, he is bothered by the noise.
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.
( I assumeyou mean from the epic poem, it is diffeent in the movie) It was basically a sneak attack, becasue Grendel broke into Heorot at night and killed thirty danes. He drank their blood and brought their head shome as trophies.
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.
As a result of Grendel's attack, King Hrothgar's warriors became fearful and the once-boisterous mead hall fell silent and abandoned. Grendel's presence instilled a sense of dread and despair in the kingdom, impacting its people and their way of life.
In "Beowulf," Herot was empty for 12 winters while Grendel terrorized the people before Beowulf arrived to defeat him.
During Grendel's first attack, King Hrothgar and his queen are likely hosting a banquet in Heorot hall. They are enjoying the revelry and feasting with their warriors when Grendel unexpectedly invades, killing many of the guests.
There is a weeping man.
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.