Composition on “A Different Drummer” or “Cal” (401)
Write a well-structured composition of about 400 words on ONE of the following topics. Please
count your words.
1. Discuss the relevance of a Black (William Melvin Kelley) writer’s choice to have White “voices” talk
about a mainly Black experience in A Different Drummer.
2. Discuss Tucker’s view of freedom -- and to what extent you share it.
3. Discuss Cal’s thoughts “To suffer for something which didn’t exist, that was like Ireland. People
were dying (…) to grind each other out of existence.” (p.73) in relation to his character and the
political situation.
4. Discuss the last sentence in Cal. (Your essay must NOT be a retelling of the story!)
Composition on “A Different Drummer” or “Cal” (402)
Write a well-structured composition of about 400 words on ONE of the following topics. Please
count your words.
1. In A Different Drummer some characters lost “something” and others didn’t. Who, what, why?
2. Discuss Bethrah’s views on education – and to what extent you share them.
3. Discuss Skeffington’s views “Not to act – you know – is to act. By not doing anything you are
helping to keep the Brits here.” (p.57)
4. Explain and discuss the various reasons for Cal’s thoughts “He was trying to get close to the one
person he should be continents away from.” (p.42) and why he does it – against his better
judgement. (Your essay must NOT be a retelling of the story!)