Final answer:
The narrator has won in the story as indicated by the climax, characterized by desperate calls for help that lead to insight and eventual success. Expressions of triumph and mastery over intense challenges, paired with metaphor and visual imagery, convey the narrator's victory to the reader.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the story, we can infer that the narrator has won because of the shifting tones and explicit statement of the outcome. For instance, in the climax of the action, the narrator's frantic attempts culminate in a triumphant resolution. The key moments use narrative techniques such as direct speech and present tense to convey the urgency and eventual success of the situation. The climax of the story is when the narrator reaches out for help in desperation, but it leads to a moment of revelation and a turning point where he realizes that he has achieved victory despite the humiliation that follows.
The dramatic change in the narrator's situation is further highlighted through the use of strong emotional words, reflecting on both the narrator's intense feelings and the significance of the moment. Phrases such as "meaner than the meanest man" and the narrator's assertion, "I got her, by God!" underscore the narrator's profound personal victory. The stories often culminate in a sudden shift in the narrator's circumstances, signaling to the reader that the narrator has won their particular struggle or achieved their goal.
The use of literary devices, such as metaphor and visual imagery, further draws the reader into the action and emphasizes the narrator's triumph. For example, the narrator's exclamation, "back the immortal soul out of her," and the detailed description of Wolfe’s dreary environment after his defeat, or McTeague's surprising joy, all serve to create a vivid sense of the experiences and outcomes faced by the characters.