Identifying the setting, main character, and plot, taking special note of rising action, climax, and denouement noting the main character's conflict, primary goals, and motivation, then drawing a conclusion.
Read with attention to see if it stated explicitly or if it is implied at any given point. It can also be projected in the way the story develops and its conclusions.
There are also good questions that will help you identify the author’s perspective; for example:
What is the motivation behind writing this text?
What is the overall idea behind key characters? how are they depicted? what does that represent?
Why does the author choose the places he does, the characters, their language, their appearance?
The development of the story can also give you an idea of the direction the writer wanted to take with the text.
Asking yourself questions related to motivation, choices and idealism found on the text and analyzing what you find after all of this, will help you understand the authors perspective, it sometimes can be about a specific subject or several things
The mood of this excerpt from "The Open Boat": by Stephen crane " the January water was icy and he reflected immediately that it was colder than he had expected” shows being overwhelmed
It demonstrates "Words of the Wiser" because Icarus' dad told him to not go too close to the sun. Icarus did and it melted the wax used to keep his wings together. It illustrates this idea because you need to listen to wise people so you don't get hurt.