Question

How do the four men find themselves in a lifeboat in the first place?

1) The captain and a few loyal supporters were set adrift by a mutinous crew.
2) They were the only ones to survive a boiler explosion on a steamboat.
3) They drew lots for spaces aboard the last available lifeboat on the sinking ship.
4) They rowed one of many lifeboats away from a sinking steamboat.

Answer 1

The men in Stephen Crane's 'The Open Boat' are not said to have ended up in the lifeboat due to mutiny, survival of a disaster, or drawing lots, but rather after their steamboat sank. Option 1.

Step-by-step explanation:

The characters in The Open Boat by Stephen Crane find themselves in a lifeboat after their ship, the Commodore, sank. The four men are the captain, an oiler named Billie, a cook, and a correspondent. They were part of the original steamboat crew, and according to the text, they have been dealing with the aftermath of a shipwreck.

The passages provided do not explicitly explain how they initially ended up in the lifeboat, nor do they confirm one of the options presented in the question. Instead, the passages detail the struggles and camaraderie of the men as they attempt to navigate and survive at sea.

The passage reflects features of Naturalism in literature, highlighting the men's vulnerability against the indifferent forces of nature and the development of a deep comradery among them in the face of adversity.

Billie the Oiler is the only named character, potentially to emphasize his common but essential role or as a symbolic representation of the working class.

The correspondent comes to value the experience for the profound brotherhood and raw exposure to life and nature it provides, contrasting with his previously cynical view of men.

So Option 1.