Which of the following describes a literary form such as an essay, novel, or poem?

The term that describes a literary form such as an essay, novel, or poem is "genre." Genre categorizes works of literature into different types based on shared characteristics, structures, or themes. For instance, essays are typically non-fiction that explores specific topics, novels are narrative works of fiction usually lengthy and complex, and poems express ideas or emotions through stylized language and form. Each of these forms has distinct conventions that define them, making genre a useful term in literary studies for discussing and analyzing works.

The other terms, while related to language and literature in different ways, do not refer specifically to literary forms. Connotation refers to the implied or associative meanings of a word beyond its literal definition, diction pertains to the choice and use of words and phrases in writing, often influencing the style and tone, and jargon describes specialized terminology associated with a particular field or profession, which may not be applicable across all literary forms.