The Snake (Symbol)
The snake is a symbol of the speaker's fear and awe. In being able to evade the speaker's sight and grasp, the snake seems to possess near-magical abilities. The speaker's initial curiosity gives way to fright when the snake deceives him about its appearance (initially looking like the lash of a whip) and then springs away from him. Dickinson uses the confusion and unease of this encounter to indicate how nature can intimidate humans with its secrets.
The Grass (Symbol)
The grass is a symbol of nature's more placid side. The grass is depicted as parting smoothly for the snake, showing a calmer aspect of the world of greenery that the speaker wandered into. The ease with which the snake is able to navigate this terrain shows that there is a possibility of grace in this natural world. But this agreeable relationship is one that has eluded the speaker.
Bare Feet (Symbol)
The speaker's bare feet symbolize his vulnerability in the face of the snake. After making note of the way snakes slither by people's feet, Dickinson sets up an expectation that this is an undesirable state for the speaker to be in. This potential for injury and harm parallels the speaker's early curiosity changing to fright. This initial openness makes him more susceptible to the surprise he experiences when the snake vanishes.
