Grendel is a monster, thought to be a spawn of Satan. Herot represents things that are good, happy and godly, and for that Grendel hates it.
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 is your classic "outcast." Because of the sins of his forefathers, specifically Cain (who killed his brother Abel), Grendel and other descendents of Cain were banished by God. The beast Grendel lives alone in a dark, cold cave. Night after night he hears the Danes loudly celebrating in Herot (the mead hall) and it drives him mad with rage and envy. He slaughters the Danes because of this. So at the root of his attacks are the very human emotions of sadness, isolation and envy. Grendel is actually a pretty sympathetic character, when you get right down to it!
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.
heaven
Grendel
Grendel's Claw (Arm) & Hroghgar's Closest Friend
12 years
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.
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.
The creature Grendel is the one who taunts Beowulf and the warriors in Herot. Grendel terrorizes the mead hall and its inhabitants, causing fear and destruction until Beowulf arrives to defeat him.