What does my teacher mean by "author's attitude"?

Question

I understand what that means when you're talking about it in reference to a peice of nonfiction, but I'm reading a fiction book. How would I be able to discern the content of the story from the author's attitude about it?

Please, please help in any way that you can. I'm very very confused.

Answer 1

You have it backwards.  You discern the author's attitude by the content of the story and how the author treats it.  For instance, J. K. Rowling uses magic and mystery in her Harry Potter books.  How does she feel about magic?  It's just normal for her characters.  She treats the background as being completely normal so she can drive the plot where it needs to go.  

In another familiar story C. S. Lewis treats Narnia as normal, but he makes it very clear that the lion Aslan is equivalent to God.  All the god-fearing animals revere him and the Pevensy children react the same way.  At the same time, the White Witch is clearly the embodiment of evil.  The entire Narnia series is very pro-Christian without actually being Christian.  The author's attitude shows very clearly.

In a third example (and more adult) Ian Fleming paints a very realistic picture of what it is like to be a British spy.  I am not talking about the Hollywood movies, but his books.  They are far more gritty.   At the same time, the overall message is clear.  You do what you have to do for your country and to survive.