“Summer was on the way; Jem and I awaited it with impatience. Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the treehouse; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape; but most of all, summer was Dill.” (Lee 38)

Question

Explain the function of the first semicolon.

Answer 1

The first semicolon in this sentence is used to separate two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning. It helps to create a pause in the sentence and emphasizes the contrast between the two clauses. The first clause sets up the anticipation of summer, while the second clause describes all the positive aspects of summer, with a particular emphasis on the presence of Dill. Overall, the semicolon serves to connect the two ideas in a more concise and impactful way.