Assignment Detail

Assignment ID: FG133287468

Assignment:

One of the main genre conventions of children’s literature is its didactic purpose. Stories meant for children often convey morals, social norms, and lessons about life that a society deems important for children to know. In Ms. Marvel and Spiderman into the Spiderverse, we are introduced to two young superheroes who each attempt to balance their normal everyday lives and the demands of their superhero responsibilities. With Kamala, we see the day-to-day reality of a first-generation Muslim Pakistani American girl. Comparatively with Miles, we see him attempt to balance his familial and community expectations with the reality of attending a predominantly white institution.

Further complicating their lives, each has taken on a superhero role that consistently puts them in harm’s way. What didactic purpose does either novel serve for children in 2022? What does it mean for Kamala or Miles to take up their respective mantles? What does this mean for their respective communities and readers outside of their communities?

Make sure to identify the values, morals, or social attitudes that the text attempts to highlight and discuss how these norms expand, challenge, or endorse our modern conception of the “child.” Is Kamala or Miles’ respective childhood respected by the adults in their lives?