... a didactic poem, especially such with animals as characters may be distinctively described as a/an_________

Analyze the question: The question asks for the term describing a didactic (morally instructive) piece, especially one using animals as characters.

Explain the concept: A didactic work aims to teach a moral lesson. Different literary forms do this in different ways:

• Fable: a short story with animals as characters that teaches a moral lesson (e.g., the Tortoise and the Hare).
• Apologue: a moral fable, usually with animals or inanimate objects as characters, told to convey a moral truth. The term is closely related to the fable.
• Parable: a short story with human characters that teaches a moral.

Check each option:

• A. Romance: a tale of adventure, chivalry, or love, not mainly didactic and not animal-centred.
• B. Gothic poem: deals with horror, mystery, and the supernatural.
• C. Limerick: a five-line humorous poem, usually nonsense.
• D. Apologue: a moral tale, often with animals as characters, written to teach a lesson. This fits the description.

Apologue is the only option that combines the didactic purpose with animal characters.

Exam tip: Remember the link: Apologue = Animals + a moral lesson. If you see "didactic" together with "animals" in a JAMB Literature question, think fable or apologue first. Keep going, you're doing well!