Writing About Unseen Poetry (PEAL)

Knowing how to analyse a poem is only half the battle — you also need to know how to write about it under exam conditions. This lesson teaches you the PEAL paragraph structure, how to embed quotations, how to structure a full response, and what the examiner is looking for at each grade boundary.

The PEAL Paragraph Structure

PEAL is a framework for writing analytical paragraphs. Every paragraph in your response should follow this pattern:

Letter	Meaning	What to do
P	Point	Make a clear analytical point about the poem
E	Evidence	Provide a short, embedded quotation
A	Analysis	Analyse the language, form, or structure — explore connotations, techniques, and effects
L	Link	Link back to the question, to the poem's themes, or to the wider argument

PEAL in Action: A Worked Example

Question: "How does the poet present the speaker's feelings about their childhood home?"

Poem excerpt:

Writing About Unseen Poetry (PEAL)

Writing About Unseen Poetry (PEAL)

The PEAL Paragraph Structure

PEAL in Action: A Worked Example

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