The Initial Effect of the Curse in 'The Lady of Shalott' Poem

What is the initial effect of the curse that falls on the Lady of Shalott in the climax of the poem?

O Darkness falls on her tower so that she can no longer see.

O Nothing happens immediately, so the Lady of Shalott thinks the curse is made up.

O Her tower begins to shake and crumble.

O Her mirror cracks, and her weaving flies out the window.

Final answer:

The initial effect of the curse is that her mirror cracks and her weaving flies out the window, marking the beginning of her tragic downfall.

Explanation:

The initial effect of the curse that falls on the Lady of Shalott in the climax of the poem "The Lady of Shalott" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is that her mirror cracks, and her weaving flies out the window. This event symbolizes the breaking of the Lady's isolation and imprisonment, and marks the beginning of her tragic downfall. It represents the disruption of her carefully constructed world and foreshadows her eventual death.

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