WHAT ARE THE SERPENT’S HEAD AND
THE WOMAN’S HEEL?—Answer. The serpent’s head means thought about forbidden
incitement, which we must with all determination crush and dash against the
stone that is Christ. The woman’s heel is the endmost time of our life, during
which the Devil strives to attack us more fiercely; but if we resist him
bravely, we shall obtain the victory of perseverance along with our salvation. (Alcuin
of York, “Questions and Answers on Genesis,” trans. Sarah Van Der Pas, in Questions
and Answers on Genesis by Augustine, Ambrosiaster, and Alcuin, ed. John Litteral
[2018], 166)
