Symbol. A symbol is a thing that stands for or represents both itself and something else. As you read, think about what the snake might symbolize in psychological terms.
Theme. A theme is a central idea in a literary work.
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D. H. Lawrence explored the psychology and subconscious minds of his characters, using intense imagery and symbolism. He wanted his work to be free of conventional rhythms and phrases and to capture the feeling of the immediate moment. “Snake” was published in the 1923 collection Birds, Beasts and Flowers, which contains poems set in many different places around the world. This poem, set in Sicily, shows the speaker’s desire to be connected with primitive forces in nature and his opposition to the voices of his “accursed human education.”
As you read, make a cluster chart listing the speaker’s feelings about the snake. One example has been done for you.
What associations do you have with snakes? How have you been educated to react to them?
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