Water and Serpent Symbolism in Eliade’s Mythopoetics

This book explores the symbolic universe of Mircea Eliade through the lens of literary theory, focusing on the recurrent motifs of water and the serpent in his fictional and theoretical writings. Drawing on approaches from myth criticism, structuralism, and depth psychology, the study examines how these symbols articulate Eliade’s vision of the sacred, the cyclical nature of time, and the human longing for transcendence. Water emerges as a metaphor for rebirth, purification, and the return to origins, often marking passages between worlds or states of being. The serpent, rich in ancient and cross-cultural meanings, reveals a complex ambivalence – linking death, immortality, wisdom, danger, and cosmic renewal. Through close readings and intertextual analysis, the book uncovers the depth and persistence of these archetypal symbols, highlighting their role in shaping Eliade’s unique fusion of myth, religion, and literature. This work invites readers into a richly layered symbolic framework that bridges Eastern and Western thought, sacred and profane realities, fiction and metaphysics, offering fresh insight into Eliade’s enduring intellectual legacy.