England and Greece are especially cited as examples, since Homer lived before Herodotus and the author of beowulf before King Alfred.
"The Literature of Ecstasy"
Albert Mordell
There is parallelism in all poetry, in beowulf and the Kalevala, and even in prose.
"The Literature of Ecstasy"
Albert Mordell
The author of beowulf, though the first English verse poet, is not the oldest Teutonic poet; he had predecessors in rhythmic prose.
"The Literature of Ecstasy"
Albert Mordell