How do I analyse an unseen text?

The first thing to do is read the question very thoroughly, and underline the key terms. Really zero in on exactly what you're being asked. Are there any specific features you need to discuss (such as language, structure or form)? Are you being asked to refer to a particular theme present in the passage? This helps you use your time more wisely, and stops you from using irrelevant material, which is vital in an exam.The next step is to go through the passage you've been given and start finding things you can comment on. This could be anything from use of a particular word or phrase, punctuation or lack thereof, or a piece of imagery or symbolism. In poetry you might try to examine the meter. In an extract from a play think about the way different characters speak to each other and the audience. In prose think about whose perspective it is written from and in all cases think about what the text is trying to achieve. These are just a few of the things you can think about. When it comes to writing up an analysis, start off big, with an overview of the passage and its broader themes (in relation to the question of course), and then start exploring the minutiae. Try and group similar points together rather than going through the passage chronologically. This is a skill known as close reading, and it comes with practice. The more you do it the easier it will be to find what you're looking for.