Final answer:
Junger asks himself about the fate and existential significance of the men aboard the shipwrecked schooner, which reflects a key naturalist theme.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the key questions that Junger asks himself in relation to the men aboard the ill-fated mackerel schooner is reflected through the existential contemplation of the characters' fate at sea. The text explores the naturalist theme of man versus nature and the seeming indifference of the universe.
Through their struggle for survival after the shipwreck, the men grapple with questions about fate, the randomness of their predicament, and the worth of their struggles.
This existential inquiry is a hallmark of naturalist literature, dramatizing the insignificance of individuals against the vast, uncaring forces of nature.