in some editions there's a period instead of semicolon in front of "I felt no fear"
"...as well as the rest of them; I felt no fear..."
It seems in some editions there's a period instead of the/a semicolon in front of "I felt no fear."

Should I use "a" or "the"?

Question

in some editions there's a period instead of   semicolon in front of "I felt no fear"
"...as well as the rest of them; I felt no fear..."
It seems in some editions there's a period instead of the/a semicolon in front of "I felt no fear."

Should I use "a" or "the"?

Answer

In fact, you could use either 'a' or 'the' here.

'A semi-colon' would be non-specific, just like 'a period'.

'The semi-colon'  would refer to the specific one in the sentence that you've just quoted.

Answer

A period separates to completed sentences. A semi colon connects two closely related complete sentences. In this case the two sentences are closely related.