Spider-Man And A Separate Peace By John Knowles

Spider-Man was created in the 1960s and was created to help nerdy teenage boys feel good about themselves. “Spider-Man was a regular teenage boy until one day he got bit by a radioactive arachnid he did not die of radiation sickness but he acquires the strength and agility of a spider as well as an uncanny spider sense” (Knowles 139). Spider-Man has a lot in common with Gene from A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Gene is a nerdy teenage boy like Spider-Man’s alter ego Peter Parker. Spider-Man can be compared or contrasted to many other heroes such as king, Arthur, Sir Gawain and Beowulf. King Arthur does not have his own superpowers he has to have his sword to use them, however Peter Parker has his powers once he gets bite by the spider. Spider-Man

Gene can be considered an enemy for pushing Finny out of the tree. “ Holding Firmly to the trunk I took a step toward him and then my knees bent and I jounced the limb” (Knowles N.pag). Gene was jealous of his best friend Finny for always being better at everything and getting more attention. However Spider-man could also be considered an enemy. “Peter at first decides to use these powers for financial gain in a career as a professional wrestler but his world is turned upside down after a robber he lets escape kills his beloved uncle Ben” (Knowles 139). Once Peter’s uncle gets killed he realizes that he needs to start fighting evil and using his powers for good. Gene also realizes that once Finny gets hurt he has to be a slave to Finny and help him get

Spider-Man uses his web and Perseus uses winged shoes. Perseus has a giving spirit much like Spider-Man. He felt bad for having no gift for the king and offered to get the king any gift of his choosing.

“ The king Polydectes did not like Perseus and asked for the head of the Gorgon Medusa and that they youth could never possibly return home alive”(Joe N.pag). Perseus relies on the advice of others to help him achieve his goal of getting Medusa’s head. Perseus comes upon Andromeda chained to a rock and offers to help for her hand in marriage and saves her. Spider-Man comes across people everyday and saves them. When Perseus gets angry he turns people to stone. Spider-Man always looks for the good in people and tries to help them. Perseus lives to have a family and become immortalized. Spider-Man likes to live in the moment. Odysseus never wanted to go to war and leave his family. Peter Parker did not ask to be bit by the spider and become Spider-Man. “Odysseus is also known for being wise and clever he is loved and respected by many who know him when acting on his concerns for others he uses his courage and brain power before fighting”(). Spider-Man employs these same characteristics when facing challenges of his