In the book Beowulf, why doesn't Grendel attack Hrothgar's "glorious throne"?

is noteworthy as the
oldest surviving major work composed in English, although if we were to attempt to read it in
its original form, Old English, we would find it incomprehensible, because the language has
changed so much since the poem was composed about 14 centuries ago.

In those
days, England was still in a state of religious transition, moving from the old pagan
mythologies of the Celts and Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, which was spreading in Europe in
Asia. However, such major changes dont occur instantly, so we see in
Beowulf a confluence of Christianity and paganism.

There
are several instances in Beowulf that demonstrate this evolution. At one
point, the Danes, in their fear over Grendels murderous rampage revert to paganism:

And sometimes they sacrificed to the old stone gods,

Made heathen vows, hoping for Hells

Support, the Devils guidance in
driving

Their affliction off.

We also
see that Grendel himself has the paganistic power of sorcery, as he able to cast a spell to help
him terrorize the Danes:

. . . for that sin-stained
demon

Had bewitched all mens weapons, laid spells

That
blunted every mortal mans blade.

Such a power implies
that the people of this time were willing to accept, and in many cases probably believe, that
certain individuals have the power to cast spells.

Finally, the story shows
that God is able and willing to intervene miraculously, in some cases, to help his followers. In
those days, and for quite a long time afterward, it was generally accepted that kings were
appointed by God. Hrothgar, king of the Danes, has a throne that Grendel is unable to attack,
because he was prevented from doing so by God:

Though he
lived in Herot, when the night hid him, he never

Dared to touch king
Hrothgars glorious

Throne, protected by GodGod,

whose love
Grendel could not know.