Final answer:
Part III of "The Lady of Shalott" marks a shift from mysticism to urgency and foreshadowing, as shown through changes in imagery, word choice, color references, and rhythm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mood and tone in Part III of Alfred Lord Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott" shift dramatically from the earlier parts of the poem. Initially, Tennyson establishes a mystical and fairy-tale atmosphere, but the tone becomes more urgent and foreboding in Part III. This is evident in lines like "Out flew the web and floated wide" and "The mirror crack'd from side to side," where Tennyson uses imagery and word choice to signify the Lady's breaking of the curse. The rhythm also changes, adopting a more hurried pace, reflecting the Lady's frenzied state.
Color references like "She left the web, she left the loom, She made three paces thro' the room" use concrete words such as 'web' and 'loom' to draw attention to the Lady's relinquishment of her usual activities. The repetition of 'left' accentuates her decisive actions. Moreover, Tennyson employs changes in lyrical rhythm to emphasize the Lady's transition from a passive observer to an active participant in her fate. The poem's indentation in lines five and nine of each stanza acts to push these lines to the fore, raising their significance.
In conclusion, Tennyson effectively uses word choice, subject focus, color references, and rhythmic changes to create a compelling and dramatic turn in the narrative of "The Lady of Shalott."