Auszug aus einem Briefwechsel über Ossian und die Lieder alter Völker

Johann Gottfried von Herder's "Auszug aus einem Briefwechsel über Ossian und die Lieder alter Völker" (1773) is an extract from a correspondence that explores the significance of Ossian's poems and the songs of ancient peoples. Herder, a key figure in the Sturm und Drang movement and a precursor to Romanticism, championed the idea that the "culture of the people" (Kultur des Volkes) was more vital than educated culture. He believed that the songs of a people reflected their "aliveness" and freedom. Herder saw ancient myths and folk songs as direct expressions of fundamental human experiences and concerns, contrasting them with what he perceived as the artificial art of his time. This perspective influenced the Romantic movement's fascination with folklore and national traditions.12