You need to pin down an object of study, a first principle from which other principles can emerge, and part of the process is to say, "Hey, it's not literature we're talking about.

首要原则是，需要锁定要谈论，即学习的目标，可是，谁知道什么是文学。

耶鲁公开课 - 文学理论导论课程节选

We're going to keep using the things that exist in space, virtual or not, and the things that unfold in time in their relationship with each other as we continue to try to understand these basic principles which shape so much of subsequent literary theory. Thank you.

我们将继续解释事物的存在，无论它们是否可见，我们会学习语言在一段时间里的关系,随着我们继续学习这些基本的概念,我们会进一步理解文学理论，谢谢。

耶鲁公开课 - 文学理论导论课程节选