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if not the author of the entire book, was the first to write any portion of Beowulf. Thus, the remainder of the book should be compared to the first section.

The first twenty-five lines of the second section serve as a transition into the second section, as they reiterate the altercation between Grendel and heroic Beowulf. This appearance of redundancy may have been due to there having been intermissions in the performance of Beowulf. The entertainer, not wishing his audience to be confused at the resumption, might remind the guests in the body of the poem what had occurred just previously. However, the lines just before this transition may have been the original ending of the epic, later continued by another entertainer, for it is here that the style and tone suddenly change. The second section is wild and fanciful. The author rushes through the plot, deemphasizing dialogue, seeming to solely relish scenes of combat. In lines 1492 through 1495, we read, "After these words the leader of the Geats/ dived bravely from the bank, did not even/ wait for an answer; the seething water/ received the warrior." Though Christian Theism is yet infused in the second section of the narrative, God is mentioned but little. Rather, Beowulf places his trust in his own strength with the approval of the author. In the first section, in lines 669 and 670, we read that, "[Beowulf fervently trusted/ in his own great strength and God's grace." In section two, lines 1534 and 1536 read, "Beowulf trusted in his own strength,/ the might of his hand. So must any man/ who hopes to gain long-lasting fame." The author of the first section is most likely a Christian Theist, while the author of the second appears to be Humanistic.

The third section differs from both the first and second sections in style and subject, though it is markedly Christian. This section contains no combat scenes, but is almost entirely comprised of dialogue. Philosophical council, examinations of the court members, Beowulf's long report of his successes, and scenes of generous gift-giving make this section stand out as a joyful aberration. Due to its similarity to the beginning of the first section, it is possible that it was composed by the same author. Perhaps the original author never intended for Beowulf to slay three monsters and lose his life in the process. It is likely that another entertainer added to the middle and end of the story to create a longer performance. That would explain the great incongruency

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