Hrothgar, the Danish king, builds a great mead hall called Heorot where his people celebrate their victories and enjoy feasting and music. This joyous noise and celebration anger Grendel, a monster living nearby, who is provoked by the sounds of human happiness and community

. Grendel reacts to Hrothgar's actions by attacking the hall at night, killing many of Hrothgar's warriors as they sleep. He repeatedly raids Heorot, killing thirty men in one night and continuing these attacks for twelve years, causing terror and despair among the Danes and forcing them to abandon the hall after dark

. In essence, Hrothgar’s creation of Heorot and the celebrations within it indirectly provoke Grendel’s wrath, leading to the monster’s violent assaults on the Danes. Hrothgar himself cannot stop Grendel, which eventually compels him to seek the help of the hero Beowulf to defeat the monster and restore peace to his kingdom