Miles Morales: Spider-Man

Poetry is a medium known for allowing writers to put complex emotions to paper. In Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Ganke and Alicia are able to express themselves through their poetry, but Miles struggles to write his feelings. Why is this the case?

Several influential figures from the Harlem Renaissance like Langston Hughes and Jacob Lawrence are alluded to in the novel. Research one figure, with emphasis on their role in the Harlem Renaissance. How does this figure tie into the novel’s themes?

The theme of Legacy and the Predisposition to Evil is crucial to the novel’s events. What inspires Miles’s fear of his own potential for evil? Why does he give up the mantle of Spider-Man, that of a crime-fighting superhero, if he fears evil?

Miles struggles with his responsibilities as a scholarship student and Spider-Man. Which role gives him the most trouble? Why does he prioritize one role over the other in the novel?

Ganke continually encourages Miles to use his Spider-Man abilities to his advantage outside of crime-fighting. Why does Ganke do this? In what ways does Miles’s “hustling” alleviate and exacerbate his fears?

Despite the fact that his father knows his identity as Spider-Man, Miles keeps the truth about his uncle’s death from him. Do you believe Miles was right to keep this secret, or do you believe he should have told his father the truth? Does keeping the secret adhere to his father’s advice about being a true hero?

In response to Mr. Chamberlain’s racist comments, Alicia stages two protests. What does each protest reveal about Alicia’s character? How do the protests affect Miles’s character?

While Mr. Chamberlain was the one who framed Miles of theft, the dean of BVA, a minor character, exhibits prejudice toward Miles and his family as well—but isn’t confronted the way that Miles confronts the Warden. With that said, what is the purpose of the dean as a character?