“An Advancement Of Learning” is a short but none-the-less intriguing poem, due to it’s originality in both subject and execution. The author, Seamus Heaney leads the reader through his meeting with a rat. His innovative use of language coupled with a fitting employment of techniques certainly makes an enjoyable read. The poem itself, which is set in nine verses, is a first person narrative with a variable rhyme scheme. The basic idea behind the poem is a man who masters his fear of rats. At first the author is fearful of the rodents but he then makes the decision to “challenge” the rat and towards the end of the poem he finally triumphs over the rat by overcoming his fear of them. During the course of the poem the author employs many writing techniques to further the quality of the narrative such as alliteration, metaphors, change of...