Answer:
Epic simile .
Step-by-step explanation:
An epic simile is a literary figurative device used for comparison between things not similar to each other by using words such as "like" and "as". This comparison technique allows the author to present the brave and courageous qualities of the hero.
The given lines are taken from the last chapters of the epic "The Odyssey" by Homer. These lines depict Odysseus like a brave mother dog, defending her "defenseless puppies" from strangers and anyone who tries to harm them. The image of the mother dog "bristling for a showdown" presents the same stance of Odysseus in his stance at the palace where he's ready to defend his family, his wife, his house, everything, from the suitors.
Thus, the correct answer is an epic simile.