Serpent (symbolism)

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/serpent-symbolism

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the archetypal associations?Earth, underworld, creation, destruction, fertility, primal forces
2. What is the symbolic transformation?Shedding skin represents renewal, rebirth, and immortality
3. What does a serpent symbolize in many stories and cultures?Serpents can mean many things, like healing, new life, or hidden danger. They show how people think about change and power.
4. Why do some cultures say a serpent can heal people?Because snakes shed their skin, which looks like a fresh start. This idea made the serpent a symbol of medicine and renewal.

Archetype: A universal, inherited pattern of thought or imagery derived from the experience of the species.
Primordial: Existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval.
Individuation: The psychological process of integrating the conscious and unconscious aspects of the personality.
Cosmological: Relating to the origin and development of the universe.