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Literary Analysis: Analyze Author’s Perspective
Academic Vocabulary

  • • perspective (pur-spek-tiv) noun A perspective is a way of thinking about something.

What Is Author’s Perspective? Authors write about things they know and care about. They often use their writing to show their perspectives about topics. Here are two ways you can understand an author’s perspective:

  • • Look closely at what the author says and how the author says it.

  • • Find out about the author’s background, or things that happened earlier in the author’s life.

Practice Together

Identify Perspective Read the passage below. Write down phrases that give you clues to the author’s perspective about the topic.

Brown’s team provides vital services to an indigent, isolated region. It also opens up a world of opportunities for its members that would never be available to them otherwise. “Unless you want a job unloading and loading planes, there’s not much to strive for here,” says Brown. All of the Dragon Slayers who have left Aniak have gone on to related careers.

Discuss how the author’s perspective helps you understand the meaning of the text better.

Try It!

Analyze Perspective Reread “Angels in the Snow.” With a partner, write down more clues that show the author’s perspective and the page number. What do the clues tell you? How do the clues help you understand the text better? Organize your thoughts in a chart.

Words and PhrasesWhat They Tell Me About the Author’s Perspective
page 451: Brown’s team provides vital servicesVital means “very important.” The author thinks the Dragon Slayers are an important part of the community.