Answer: D. the correspondent thought that he was the one man afloat on all the oceans.
Explanation:
"The Open Boat" is a short story written by Stephen Crane. It is based on the author's own experience of surviving a shipwreck.
In the excerpt above, the theme of loneliness is best portrayed in detail D."One man afloat on all the oceans" conveys the idea of loneliness and isolation, while the use of words "fragmentary" and "dull" contribute to the isolated atmosphere.
