We might suppose it to be invariably the case that a story has an ending, and that is that. But some recollection will suggest that we are familiar from various sources with the possibility of multiple endings. The fairy stories of the brothers Grimm often have variants. Is Red Riding Hood eaten by the wolf or does she live happily ever after? Greek myths are told and retold with different endings. In Gluck's opera, Eurydice is finally restored to Orfeo, even though he has looked back at her as he leads her out of Hades. Modern novels have extended the possibilities. John Fowles' The French Lieutenant's Woman gives us a choice of endings. Other books avoid telling us the ending, avoid closure.

Armed with the knowledge that there are more options than the so-called fairy-tale ending, let us turn to one of the most fought-over extensive variant readings, the ending of Mark's Gospel. There are six different endings attested.

1. The Short Ending. This consists of the first eight verses of the last chapter. Their authenticity is undisputed.