Name: ___________________________________ Date: _____ Block: ____
THE PELICAN BRIEF – 5 Paragraph Essay
By John Grisham (1992)
Choose 1 of the following Essay Options. Brainstorm ideas and write a plan for that essay
(questions taken from Cambridge Practice Exams, Test Book 1)
Essay 1: Who is the most corrupt character in The Pelican Brief. Give reasons for your view.
Essay 2: Briefly outline the plot and explain why it is called The Pelican Brief. Also say
whether you enjoyed it or not and why.
Essay 3: 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.
Essay 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.