Sample Analysis: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Let’s walk through an example so you can actually see how PEEL works.
- We’ll figure out how to find techniques, explain what they do, and tie it all back to the writer’s message.
PEEL = Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link
- P: Point
- Start with a clear idea or argument.
- What is the writer showing or saying through the text?
- E: Evidence
- Drop in a quote or describe a specific moment.
- This should show how the writer is doing what you just said.
- E: Explanation
- Unpack how the technique works.
- What effect does it have? Why did the writer choose it?
- What does it make the reader think or feel?
- L: Link
- Tie it all back to your main point.
- How does it support your overall argument or the text’s big idea?
Step 1: Read the Passage
Excerpt:
“A single candle flickered in the corridor, its flame trembling as if afraid.”
Step 2: Deconstruct the Passage
- What techniques are being used?
- What images, tone, or emotions are created?
- What themes or ideas emerge?
- What effect does the language have on the reader?
- What is the writer’s purpose?
| Technique | Identification | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Technique | A single candle in a dark corridor | Highlights isolation and focuses the reader’s attention. |
| Imagery | “flame trembling” (tactile/visual) | Suggests vulnerability, as if the light itself feels fear. |
| Personification | The flame appears “afraid” | Projects human emotion onto the candle, enhancing tension. |
| Symbolism | The candle symbolises hope or life | Implies that even a faint light can resist overwhelming darkness. |
Step 3: Using PEEL to Structure Your Analysis
- Point:
- The author uses the image of a lone candle to symbolize the fragility of hope in an oppressive or fearful environment.
- Evidence:
- This is shown through the visual description of “a single candle in the dark” and the personified imagery of its “flame trembling as if afraid.”
