Larry, (or Lawrence as he prefers to be called), goes to a small university in New Brunswick to study poetry under his idol, the talented and enigmatic Jim Arsenault. To Larry’s delight and astonishment, Jim befriends him and soon he’s Jim’s confidant. Along with a cast of fawning English students, they go drinking together, debate about poetry, commit pranks, and when Jim is turned down for tenure, Larry leads a campaign to convince the school to reconsider. However, as Larry becomes aware of Jim’s neediness and insecurity, his naivety and idealism begin to erode.