Analysing Language
What examiners want
Not just spotting a technique, but explaining its effect on the reader and why the writer chose it.
A reliable method — Point, Evidence, Explain (PEE / PETAL)
1. Point – a clear statement about the effect.
2. Evidence – a short, embedded quotation.
3. Explain – analyse specific words and their connotations.
4. (Higher) Technique + Link back to the question.
Key language techniques
| Technique | Example |
|---|---|
| Simile | "as cold as ice" |
| Metaphor | "a concrete monster" |
| Personification | "the wind screamed" |
| Onomatopoeia | "the crackle of fire" |
| Emotive language | "helpless, terrified children" |
| Hyperbole | "a million miles away" |
Worked example
> The city is a "concrete monster".
The metaphor "concrete monster" presents the city as threatening and inhuman. The noun "monster" carries connotations of danger and fear, suggesting the narrator feels overwhelmed and trapped by the urban landscape.
Zoom in on single words
Pick one powerful word and explore its connotations — this is what lifts an answer from describing to analysing.
Exam tip
Always answer "what effect does this have on the reader?" Embed short quotations rather than copying whole sentences.