Andrew Marvell: Poems Lesson Plan

What does the snake in "The Coronet" represent? Why is this relevant for one's understanding of the poem?

Many students will probably get this reference to the devil very quickly, even if they weren't raised in Christian households. Upon being asked, several of them may also be able to point out other associated symbolic meanings, such as the devil's seduction of Adam and Eve, or the curse that God cast on him after he convinced Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Good and Evil. In any case, the presence of the snake as a symbol in the poem shows that the poem is not only about the shepherd and God, but also (perhaps equally) about the shepherd and the devil.

Why do...