Landesabitur Hessen 2025, Englisch LK Q1-4
List of contents
Q1.1 The USA - the formation of a nation ………………………………………………………………… p.2
Q1.2 Living in the American society ……………………………………………………………………….. p.5
Q1.3 Manifestation of individualism ……………………………………………………………………….. p.7
Q1 Gran Torino ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. p.9
Q2.1 Great Britain – past and present: the character of a nation …………………………………. p.12
Q2.2 Ethnic diversity ……………………………………………………………………………………………. p.15
Q2 The three short stories …………………………………………………………………………………..… p.16
- Shooting an Elephant – George Orwell ………………………………………………………..…………... p.16
- My Son the Fanatic – Hanif Kureishi …………………………………………………………….………..... p.18
- The Embassy of Cambodia – Zadie Smith …………………………………………………………….….. p.20
Q3.1 Human dilemmas in fiction and real life …………………………………………………………… p.21
Q3 Othello – William Shakespeare ……………………………………………………………..…………… p.22
Q3.3 Gender issues …………………………………………………………………………………………….… p.28
Q3.5 Globalization ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. p.30
Q3 The Circle – Dave Eggers …………………………………………………………………………………… p.32
Q4.2 The media ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. p.38
Vocabulary …………………………………………………………………………………………………………... p.42
Text types …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p.50
Rhetorical devices ………………………………………………………………………………………………… p.51
1
, Landesabitur Hessen 2025, Englisch LK Q1-4
Q1.1 The USA – the formation of a nation
Development and principles of American democracy (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness)
Mayflower compact (1629)
- First political agreement for self-government in America
- Signed on the Mayflower ship by the Pilgrim Fathers (=people who wanted to leave the
Anglican church and searched for change)
- Of major importance for today’s democracy
Declaration of Independence (1776)
“all men are created equal […] with certain unalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness“ (→ create your life after your will and pursue after what makes you
happy)
- 13 British colonies wanted to split from Britain
- Symbol of freedom and individualism
- BUT exclusion of women, slaves and non-white people
Articles of Confederation (1777)
- First constitution of the United States
- Weak federal government; gave most power to individual states
- Each state had its own rules → disputes and economic problems accrued
- Shay’s Rebellion (1786), an armed riot by soldiers and farmers, as a call for reformation
U.S. Constitution (1787)
- Establishment of a strong federal government; individual states still had power
- Three branches of government to ensure balance (legislative, executive, judicial)
- Became the supreme law in 1789
The Bill of Rights (1791)
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, protecting essential rights and freedoms
→ freedom of speech, religion and the press
- Protection from unfair trials, punishments and government abuse
Principles of the U.S. Constitution
Federalism
Power is shared between the federal/national government and state governments
- State governments handle local issues (e.g. schools)
- Federal government controls national issues (e.g. defense, foreign policy)
- Some powers (e.g. taxation) are shared between both levels
Popular Sovereignty
The power of the government comes from the people; citizens elect leaders to represent them
Separation of Powers
Government is divided into three branches to avoid that one single branch gains too much power
- Legislative Branch (Congress): makes laws
- Executive Branch (President & Cabinet): enforces laws
- Judicial Branch (Supreme Court): interprets laws and decided if they are fair
2
, Landesabitur Hessen 2025, Englisch LK Q1-4
Checks and Balances
Each branch of the government can limit the power of the other branches to maintain balance
Civil and political rights
The Bill of Rights guarantees rights like free speech, religion and equality
Landmarks of American history
1492 Columbus discovers America → beginning of the history of the United
States as a nation
1620 First European settlers arrived in America (Pilgrim Fathers) → they fled to
America because of religious persecution; Mayflower compact was signed
and a government in Plymouth was set up
1765-1783 American Revolution: fighting for disengagement of the 13 American
colonies from the British Empire; independence of the United States
1773 Boston Tea Party: act of resistance against the British colonial policy →
citizens dressed up as Native Americans and threw tea into the dock
04.07.1776 Declaration of Independence: the 13 colonies officially declared their
independence from the British Empire
1777 Articles of Confederation: first constitution of the USA; led to disputes and
the need of a stronger government
1783 Treaty of Paris: signed between Great Britain and the American colonies →
officially ended the American Revolution and recognized the USA as an
independent nation
1787 Implementation of the U.S. Constitution (government serves U.S. citizens);
Founding Fathers signed the first governmental treaties for the USA
1791 Bill of Rights: first ten amendments to protect essential rights and freedom
Around 1850 Manifest Destiny: religious idea that god had chosen the USA for people to
go there, set up a better country and spread their territory
Development of slavery in the United States
First slaves around 1600
1861-1865: exacerbation of slavery
- Civil War: fight between North and South America → dispute over having more slaves
(South) or preventing it (North)
- Jim Crow Laws (1865): segregated black people from social events and detached their
rights (e.g. exclusion from elections)
1900-1930:
- Lynchings as acts of control; black people got lynched without accuses, white people
who helped them also gut lynched → lynchings led to realization
- Black people as entertainment for white people (e.g. fighting blindfolded)
1939-1957:
- Black people were fighting for their rights in WW2
- NAACP (National association for the Advancement of Colored People) peacefully fought
for civil rights and justice
- Deaths of innocent black people led to more radical acts
3
, Landesabitur Hessen 2025, Englisch LK Q1-4
- Graphics showed the brutal reality and shocked people (e.g. Emmet Till, who got
brutally beaten up) → trigger moments!
- Little Rock Nine: first black students in “white schools”
1958-1968:
- Church bombing (1963): white terrorists bombed a Baptist church in Birmingham →
four girls died
- Segregation by rules (e.g. bus seats): Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat up for a
white person
- Civil Rights Movement: anti-racist social movement (e.g. March on Washington);
people peacefully fought for equality and the exile of racial segregation → turning the
other cheek: “if someone harms you, do not harm him back” → BUT after Martin Luther
King got murdered, their mindset radicalized
1968:
- Beginning of radical change → people started to get angry because nothing changed,
black people were ready to fight back
- Malcolm X: he seeked for radical and revolutionary change → “blood has to flow”
- Black Power Salute: protests in sport; black Olympic athlete protested after winning
and got disqualified
1980s:
- Riots, criticism of police brutality and racism, …
- Systemic racism: strict “crack rules” to put black people into prison
- Ghettos: bad living conditions; “like a jungle where you can’t get out”; social injustice
- Million Man March: addressed the challenges which African Americans had to suffer
2000s:
- Black Lives Matter Movement (#BLM): started on social media, after George Floyd had
been killed by a police officer
- Still strict drug policies
- Systemic racism was hard to recognize; “stuck in people’s mind”
Recent political and social developments in the USA
2016: Presidential Election
- Big division between voters (Republicans vs. Democrats)
- Donald Trump won the election and became president
2017-2021: Trump’s presidency
- Introduction of new immigration restrictions and exits of international agreements (e.g.
World Health Organization)
- Misinformation about the coronavirus caused confusion and fear; downplaying of social
distancing and health measures → pandemic worsened
2024: Trump’s reelection
- Trump won the 2024 election against Kamala Harris
- Plan to give the president more power than the government
- Less focus on climate change
- Elon Musk’s now leading Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency”; Musk
supports the AfD and criticizes German migration politics
- Russia-Ukraine-War: Trump promised a quick end, but no ceasefire has been achieved
4
, Landesabitur Hessen 2025, Englisch LK Q1-4
Q1.2 Living in the American society
The American Dream
Set of expectations and beliefs, which gives all citizens “the opportunity to achieve their goals
and to become rich and famous”
Politics
- Equality (“all individuals are equal in front of the law”); social justice, civil rights
- “New Frontier” (John F. Kennedy): shaped individualism and opposition to government
control; shaped the idea of American Exceptionalism (= America being superior)
- Example and savior to the rest of the world (first democracy)
Individual level
- Freedom of speech and religion; safety
- Equality in life, rights and wealth
- Fulfilling your dreams (pursuit of happiness)
As a nation
- Patriotism (= enthusiastic love for your own country)
- Loyalty and unity → shared values
- Social engagement, helping others
Opportunity
- Overconsumption; “from rags to riches”
- Good education
- Hard work, effort and ambition → leads to success and prosperity
Manifest Destiny
Religious idea that god has chosen the USA as his country for people to go there, set up a better
country and spread their territory
→ The American Nightmare: huge gap between rich and poor; discrimination, racism;
unemployment, poverty, low-income jobs
Symbols of the American Dream
- Freedom: American flag and statue of liberty
- Material success: Hollywood
Migration
- Reasons: escape from war, persecution, poverty, looking for better opportunities,
seasonal work
- Effects: loss of highly educated people, exploitation of undocumented workers,
segregation of native people and immigrants
Immigration in America
- America attracted seekers of liberty and freedom, as some suffered from oppressive and
harsh conditions → in America they could flourish, prosper and practice their various
religions without fear of the state
5
, Landesabitur Hessen 2025, Englisch LK Q1-4
- Transformed into the American principles: the adoption of American principles makes
them “American” (not ethnic)
- Example: Pilgrim Fathers were immigrants → they escaped on the Mayflower from Britain
to America
Timeline of immigration
Time span Group Reasons
16 /17th century
th
Europeans Land was cheap, better economic
conditions, hope for better life,
adventures, exploration
1620 Puritans Fleeing from religious persecution,
mission by god
End of 19th Irish people Potato famine causes unemployment;
century hope for better job opportunities
20th century Europeans Escaping from Nazis, economic boom
in the US (industrialization)
20th century until Hispanics, Asians Escaping war and oppressions in home
present country
Immigration concepts
Melting Pot: individuals melting into a “new culture”; various ethnic groups do not retain their
cultural heritage but fuse into one new group; tolerant and respectful interactions
Salad Bowl: individuals come together but keep their own distinct shape/features; various
ethnicities form a multicultural society; integrating different cultures while maintaining their
separate identities (diverse, pluralistic); “unity in diversity”
Questions of identity
- Immigrants feel pressure to adapt to American culture; loss of original traditions,
language and customs
- Melting Pot → cultures blend into one unified American identity; immigrants are
expected to assimilate by adopting American values, language and customs
- Salad Bowl → different cultures coexist while keeping their unique identities;
multiculturalism is embraced; leads to division rather than unity
- (Systemic) racism, segregation, discrimination
- Gran Torino: power of understanding and acceptance in overcoming cultural divides;
embracing immigrants as part of the American identity
Values and beliefs
- Sense of community → Americans unite in times of crisis, valuing volunteerism and civic
duty
- The American Dream: wealth (final success; proof of hard work); power (US values
strength to protect democracy and global influence); individuality (Americans cherish
personal freedom); tolerance and equality (people deserve equal rights); social
engagement; liberty and independency; role model to the world; pursuit of happiness, …
6
List of contents
Q1.1 The USA - the formation of a nation ………………………………………………………………… p.2
Q1.2 Living in the American society ……………………………………………………………………….. p.5
Q1.3 Manifestation of individualism ……………………………………………………………………….. p.7
Q1 Gran Torino ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. p.9
Q2.1 Great Britain – past and present: the character of a nation …………………………………. p.12
Q2.2 Ethnic diversity ……………………………………………………………………………………………. p.15
Q2 The three short stories …………………………………………………………………………………..… p.16
- Shooting an Elephant – George Orwell ………………………………………………………..…………... p.16
- My Son the Fanatic – Hanif Kureishi …………………………………………………………….………..... p.18
- The Embassy of Cambodia – Zadie Smith …………………………………………………………….….. p.20
Q3.1 Human dilemmas in fiction and real life …………………………………………………………… p.21
Q3 Othello – William Shakespeare ……………………………………………………………..…………… p.22
Q3.3 Gender issues …………………………………………………………………………………………….… p.28
Q3.5 Globalization ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. p.30
Q3 The Circle – Dave Eggers …………………………………………………………………………………… p.32
Q4.2 The media ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. p.38
Vocabulary …………………………………………………………………………………………………………... p.42
Text types …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p.50
Rhetorical devices ………………………………………………………………………………………………… p.51
1
, Landesabitur Hessen 2025, Englisch LK Q1-4
Q1.1 The USA – the formation of a nation
Development and principles of American democracy (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness)
Mayflower compact (1629)
- First political agreement for self-government in America
- Signed on the Mayflower ship by the Pilgrim Fathers (=people who wanted to leave the
Anglican church and searched for change)
- Of major importance for today’s democracy
Declaration of Independence (1776)
“all men are created equal […] with certain unalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness“ (→ create your life after your will and pursue after what makes you
happy)
- 13 British colonies wanted to split from Britain
- Symbol of freedom and individualism
- BUT exclusion of women, slaves and non-white people
Articles of Confederation (1777)
- First constitution of the United States
- Weak federal government; gave most power to individual states
- Each state had its own rules → disputes and economic problems accrued
- Shay’s Rebellion (1786), an armed riot by soldiers and farmers, as a call for reformation
U.S. Constitution (1787)
- Establishment of a strong federal government; individual states still had power
- Three branches of government to ensure balance (legislative, executive, judicial)
- Became the supreme law in 1789
The Bill of Rights (1791)
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, protecting essential rights and freedoms
→ freedom of speech, religion and the press
- Protection from unfair trials, punishments and government abuse
Principles of the U.S. Constitution
Federalism
Power is shared between the federal/national government and state governments
- State governments handle local issues (e.g. schools)
- Federal government controls national issues (e.g. defense, foreign policy)
- Some powers (e.g. taxation) are shared between both levels
Popular Sovereignty
The power of the government comes from the people; citizens elect leaders to represent them
Separation of Powers
Government is divided into three branches to avoid that one single branch gains too much power
- Legislative Branch (Congress): makes laws
- Executive Branch (President & Cabinet): enforces laws
- Judicial Branch (Supreme Court): interprets laws and decided if they are fair
2
, Landesabitur Hessen 2025, Englisch LK Q1-4
Checks and Balances
Each branch of the government can limit the power of the other branches to maintain balance
Civil and political rights
The Bill of Rights guarantees rights like free speech, religion and equality
Landmarks of American history
1492 Columbus discovers America → beginning of the history of the United
States as a nation
1620 First European settlers arrived in America (Pilgrim Fathers) → they fled to
America because of religious persecution; Mayflower compact was signed
and a government in Plymouth was set up
1765-1783 American Revolution: fighting for disengagement of the 13 American
colonies from the British Empire; independence of the United States
1773 Boston Tea Party: act of resistance against the British colonial policy →
citizens dressed up as Native Americans and threw tea into the dock
04.07.1776 Declaration of Independence: the 13 colonies officially declared their
independence from the British Empire
1777 Articles of Confederation: first constitution of the USA; led to disputes and
the need of a stronger government
1783 Treaty of Paris: signed between Great Britain and the American colonies →
officially ended the American Revolution and recognized the USA as an
independent nation
1787 Implementation of the U.S. Constitution (government serves U.S. citizens);
Founding Fathers signed the first governmental treaties for the USA
1791 Bill of Rights: first ten amendments to protect essential rights and freedom
Around 1850 Manifest Destiny: religious idea that god had chosen the USA for people to
go there, set up a better country and spread their territory
Development of slavery in the United States
First slaves around 1600
1861-1865: exacerbation of slavery
- Civil War: fight between North and South America → dispute over having more slaves
(South) or preventing it (North)
- Jim Crow Laws (1865): segregated black people from social events and detached their
rights (e.g. exclusion from elections)
1900-1930:
- Lynchings as acts of control; black people got lynched without accuses, white people
who helped them also gut lynched → lynchings led to realization
- Black people as entertainment for white people (e.g. fighting blindfolded)
1939-1957:
- Black people were fighting for their rights in WW2
- NAACP (National association for the Advancement of Colored People) peacefully fought
for civil rights and justice
- Deaths of innocent black people led to more radical acts
3
, Landesabitur Hessen 2025, Englisch LK Q1-4
- Graphics showed the brutal reality and shocked people (e.g. Emmet Till, who got
brutally beaten up) → trigger moments!
- Little Rock Nine: first black students in “white schools”
1958-1968:
- Church bombing (1963): white terrorists bombed a Baptist church in Birmingham →
four girls died
- Segregation by rules (e.g. bus seats): Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat up for a
white person
- Civil Rights Movement: anti-racist social movement (e.g. March on Washington);
people peacefully fought for equality and the exile of racial segregation → turning the
other cheek: “if someone harms you, do not harm him back” → BUT after Martin Luther
King got murdered, their mindset radicalized
1968:
- Beginning of radical change → people started to get angry because nothing changed,
black people were ready to fight back
- Malcolm X: he seeked for radical and revolutionary change → “blood has to flow”
- Black Power Salute: protests in sport; black Olympic athlete protested after winning
and got disqualified
1980s:
- Riots, criticism of police brutality and racism, …
- Systemic racism: strict “crack rules” to put black people into prison
- Ghettos: bad living conditions; “like a jungle where you can’t get out”; social injustice
- Million Man March: addressed the challenges which African Americans had to suffer
2000s:
- Black Lives Matter Movement (#BLM): started on social media, after George Floyd had
been killed by a police officer
- Still strict drug policies
- Systemic racism was hard to recognize; “stuck in people’s mind”
Recent political and social developments in the USA
2016: Presidential Election
- Big division between voters (Republicans vs. Democrats)
- Donald Trump won the election and became president
2017-2021: Trump’s presidency
- Introduction of new immigration restrictions and exits of international agreements (e.g.
World Health Organization)
- Misinformation about the coronavirus caused confusion and fear; downplaying of social
distancing and health measures → pandemic worsened
2024: Trump’s reelection
- Trump won the 2024 election against Kamala Harris
- Plan to give the president more power than the government
- Less focus on climate change
- Elon Musk’s now leading Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency”; Musk
supports the AfD and criticizes German migration politics
- Russia-Ukraine-War: Trump promised a quick end, but no ceasefire has been achieved
4
, Landesabitur Hessen 2025, Englisch LK Q1-4
Q1.2 Living in the American society
The American Dream
Set of expectations and beliefs, which gives all citizens “the opportunity to achieve their goals
and to become rich and famous”
Politics
- Equality (“all individuals are equal in front of the law”); social justice, civil rights
- “New Frontier” (John F. Kennedy): shaped individualism and opposition to government
control; shaped the idea of American Exceptionalism (= America being superior)
- Example and savior to the rest of the world (first democracy)
Individual level
- Freedom of speech and religion; safety
- Equality in life, rights and wealth
- Fulfilling your dreams (pursuit of happiness)
As a nation
- Patriotism (= enthusiastic love for your own country)
- Loyalty and unity → shared values
- Social engagement, helping others
Opportunity
- Overconsumption; “from rags to riches”
- Good education
- Hard work, effort and ambition → leads to success and prosperity
Manifest Destiny
Religious idea that god has chosen the USA as his country for people to go there, set up a better
country and spread their territory
→ The American Nightmare: huge gap between rich and poor; discrimination, racism;
unemployment, poverty, low-income jobs
Symbols of the American Dream
- Freedom: American flag and statue of liberty
- Material success: Hollywood
Migration
- Reasons: escape from war, persecution, poverty, looking for better opportunities,
seasonal work
- Effects: loss of highly educated people, exploitation of undocumented workers,
segregation of native people and immigrants
Immigration in America
- America attracted seekers of liberty and freedom, as some suffered from oppressive and
harsh conditions → in America they could flourish, prosper and practice their various
religions without fear of the state
5
, Landesabitur Hessen 2025, Englisch LK Q1-4
- Transformed into the American principles: the adoption of American principles makes
them “American” (not ethnic)
- Example: Pilgrim Fathers were immigrants → they escaped on the Mayflower from Britain
to America
Timeline of immigration
Time span Group Reasons
16 /17th century
th
Europeans Land was cheap, better economic
conditions, hope for better life,
adventures, exploration
1620 Puritans Fleeing from religious persecution,
mission by god
End of 19th Irish people Potato famine causes unemployment;
century hope for better job opportunities
20th century Europeans Escaping from Nazis, economic boom
in the US (industrialization)
20th century until Hispanics, Asians Escaping war and oppressions in home
present country
Immigration concepts
Melting Pot: individuals melting into a “new culture”; various ethnic groups do not retain their
cultural heritage but fuse into one new group; tolerant and respectful interactions
Salad Bowl: individuals come together but keep their own distinct shape/features; various
ethnicities form a multicultural society; integrating different cultures while maintaining their
separate identities (diverse, pluralistic); “unity in diversity”
Questions of identity
- Immigrants feel pressure to adapt to American culture; loss of original traditions,
language and customs
- Melting Pot → cultures blend into one unified American identity; immigrants are
expected to assimilate by adopting American values, language and customs
- Salad Bowl → different cultures coexist while keeping their unique identities;
multiculturalism is embraced; leads to division rather than unity
- (Systemic) racism, segregation, discrimination
- Gran Torino: power of understanding and acceptance in overcoming cultural divides;
embracing immigrants as part of the American identity
Values and beliefs
- Sense of community → Americans unite in times of crisis, valuing volunteerism and civic
duty
- The American Dream: wealth (final success; proof of hard work); power (US values
strength to protect democracy and global influence); individuality (Americans cherish
personal freedom); tolerance and equality (people deserve equal rights); social
engagement; liberty and independency; role model to the world; pursuit of happiness, …
6
