Edit in JSFiddle

var MyView = Backbone.View.extend({
    initialize:function(){
        this.render()
    },
    render:function(){
        //this.$el is shortcut for jQuery(this.el);
        console.log(this.$el.attr('id')); //logs myView, 
        //the above not using the short cut could be $(this.el).attr('id')
    }
});

var myViewInstance = new MyView({el:'#myView'});

<div id="myView"></div>