THE PELICAN BRIEF
By John Grisham (1992)
DISCUSSION:
 What do you know about John Grisham? What kind of books does he write?
 Why is the book called The Pelican Brief?
(Check your ideas with a classmate who has read the book)
THE TRAILER:
Watch the trailer to the film of The Pelican Brief and answer the questions below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What other books by John Grisham are mentioned?
What other films by Alan J. Pakula are mentioned?
What type of film is it?
Name two American cities in which the film is set.
What do you find out about the plot of the film?
What the trailer again and fill in the missing words:
1. The Supreme Court of the U.S.A. – the ultimate symbol of _______ and ________.
2. Darby: “Everyone is assuming that the motive is hatred or revenge. What if the issue
involved is old fashioned __________ _____________?”
3. A lone law student has __________ __________ who did the killings and why.
4. A document known in the _____________ of ____________ as the Pelican Brief.
5. The only person she can trust is an _________________ _________________.
6. Gray: “I’ll take my ____________. “
7. Gray: “If this thing reaches as _______ and goes as _______ as we think it does, these
men will do anything not to be exposed.”
FROM THE PAGE TO THE SCREEN:
DVD: Chapter 21 (1.05:00) “Grantham Takes His Chances”.
Book: Arrow Edition Chapter 28, pp.245 - 248
1. Watch the scene from the film when Gray and Darby meet for the first time.
 How do you think each character is feeling?
 Do you think Darby trusts Gray? Why/Why not?
 What information does Gray give Darby that surprises her?
 Why did Darby contact Gray?
2. Watch the scene again and fill in the missing words with a modal verb.
Darby:
Darby:
Gray:
Darby:
Darby:
Gray:
Darby:
You _______________ follow my instructions.
You _____________ think I’m crazy.
They said he’s been dead for at least 8 hours.
That ________ be.
You _________ under any circumstances use my name.
Not unless I _________ convince you otherwise.
Well, you ________.
Which modals show ability, permission, obligation or deduction?
3. Read the extract from the book. How has the scene changed?
CHARACTERS:
1. Look at the list of characters below and match them to one of the eight descriptions:
F. Denton Voyles
Robert Gminski
The President of the U.S.A.
Darby Shaw
Gray Grantham
Gavin Verheek
Thomas Callahan
Justice Abraham Rosenberg
Justice Glenn Jensen
Khamel
Fletcher Coal
Victor Mattiece
(a) The head of the C.I.A. who is secretly protecting Darby.
(b) The head of the F.B.I. who is told by the President to stop investigating the Pelican Brief.
(c) A young law student who writes a speculative essay about the murder of two Supreme
Court justices.
(d) Darby’s law professor & lover who is killed by a car bomb.
(e) Thomas’s friend, a lawyer for the F.B.I., who gives Darby’s brief to his boss.
(f) A hired assassin who kills for large amounts of money. A master of disguise, he is wanted
around the world and has never been caught.
(g) The President’s Chief of Staff. He manipulates, the President, the F.B.I. and the Press
and is the real power in the White House. He would do anything to keep the President in
power.
(h) A corrupt, reclusive business man who has close ties to the President.
2. How are the other characters important to the story?
3. Can you divide this list of characters into heroes and villains?
4. Can you complete the mind map below to describe Darby.
Darby Shaw
Biodata:
e.g. Student at
Tulane University,
New Orleans
Personal
Characteristics
e.g. resourceful
How She Feels
throughout the
book/film
e.g. anguished
What does she
want?
e.g. to escape
EXAMPLE EXAM QUESTIONS:
Brainstorm ideas and write a plan for each of the following questions taken from Cambridge
Practice Exams, Test Book 1.
TEST 1:
Write an essay on the following topic:
Who is the most corrupt character in The Pelican Brief. Give reasons for your view.
TEST 2:
Write an essay for your teacher on the following topic:
Briefly outline the plot and explain why it is called The Pelican Brief. Also say whether you
enjoyed it or not.
TEST 3:
Write an essay for your teacher on the following topic:
What is the importance of politics to the storyline of The Pelican Brief. Outline what part politics
plays in the story and say whether you think these events could happen in real life.
TEST 4:
Write an article for a college magazine on the following topic:
Who are the ”bad guys” in The Pelican Brief. Your article should describe the role these villains
play in the story and say how you think they add to the excitement of the plot.