D. Rhyme scheme and meter aren't important when it comes to the topic; that's just the platform the story is told.
The second alternative is correct (B).
"Gold in California ignited interest in a railroad to reach the West. However, Americans disagreed on where to build the railroad."
The use of the conjunction "however" in this context connects the two sentences with a contraposition, giving the exact meaning for the continuity of the text. In this way, it became clear that there was a need to build a railroad, but there was no unity among Americans about where to build the railroad.
I think it's the first option.
Wiglaf is presented as a model of loyalty. He understands what the anglo-saxon code is like and believes in Beowulf without any doubt. He is brave and willing to help Beowulf and criticizes the other warriors for not behaving the same. This is why he is later appointed as Beowulf's heir.
I would say that A) even the ice-hard heart of Hades melted - uses hyperbole, because he didn't really have an ice heart, and it didn't really melt, it is exaggeration.
