But the development of human society does not go straight forward and the...
Traditional matter must be glorified since it would be easier to listen to...
That is to say epic poetry has been invented many times and independently...
If epic poetry is a definite species the sagas do not fall within it.
Goethe died in 1832. As you know Goethe was very active in science. In fact he did some very good scientific work in plant morphology and mineralogy. But he was quite bitter at the way in which many scientists refused to grant him a hearing because he was a poet and therefore they felt he couldn't be serious.