Final answer:
The statement is an example of a metaphor because it makes a direct comparison between pride and a seed that can grow into beneficial or detrimental outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase 'Pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death.' is an example of a metaphor. This figure of speech directly compares 'pride' to a 'seed' that can grow into 'two vines, life and death,' without using the words 'like' or 'as.' It captures the dual nature of pride, symbolizing both positive and negative outcomes.
A simile would require the use of 'like' or 'as' to make the comparison, such as in 'Pride is like a seed.' Irony would involve a statement that implies the opposite of its literal meaning, and hyperbole would exaggerate the truth for effect, which is not the case here. Thus, the correct answer to the question is a metaphor.