Helpful tip on use of semicolon.

I've received permission to post this little comic/article about how the many uses of semicolon. Enjoy!

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon

journal #5 and paper topics for SP#2

First, I'd like to say that today's discussion was very fruitful, as we identified a number (if not most) of the major themes which are present in the current Shakespearean piece we are investigating; especially for its dealing(s) with literary character(s)... 

Second, for this journal entry I would like each of you to PROPOSE A POSSIBLE THESIS STATEMENT for your second Short Paper. That is, all you need write for this journal is a few sentences which introduce and offer your thesis statement, nothing more...

As classmates, you may (and should) comment and help explicate your fellows' thoughts and ideas. That is, provide page numbers; specific act(s) and scene(s) and line numbers... all for the purpose of easing the production of the upcoming short paper assignment.

Here are some of the primary lines-of-thought when it comes to The Tempest and the various number of themes that we as critics can expound upon...

1) Nature v. Art (these terms need to be capitalized; think Civilization v. Non-Civil...  aka read the Introduction for more on this topic, as it should help ground this line of interpretation)

2) renewal and rebirth (on an individual level, yes; but also consider the island as the "seat of change")

3) illusion v. reality (those scenes which are deliberately fabricated, both for the players and for the audience are VERY significant)

4) (self-)control v. fate --- who IS REALLY in control? (consider this: Ariel as an "elemental spirit" v. Caliban as a "base creature")

5)  righteousness v. corruption (i.e., contrast Gonzalo v. Antonio and/or Sebastian)

6) the "drunken" monarchy as a parody of "true" monarchy

7) the isle as the center and source of change (think ALCHEMICAL/MERCURIAL change; that is, the isle could be viewed as a lead chuck placed into a pool of mercurial water, the sea, to become gold, hence altered and purified)

8) discuss Ariel's androgyny

9) any (dis)connection that can be drawn between the physical production (@ BAM) of the play and the written tex; that is, offer a comparison or contrast between the performance and the text

10) discuss the "habit" (i.e., one's clothing) in which one appears and how their character or personae is affected or changed when they "inhabit" new or different garments