We can never just have it there before us or, as I say, if we can--if we can--it's a very, very difficult act of concentration.

我们永远不能只面对着它，或者，要我来说，如果我们可以的话，那将需要高度集中注意力，这是很难的。

耶鲁公开课 - 文学理论导论课程节选

Milton is alerting us to the significance of the word "first" in the very first line, in this wonderful act of violating the laws of iambic pentameter.

弥尔顿在第一句就促使我们注意到“,“初/先“一词的重要性,不惜违背了抑扬格五音步诗的格律。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选

This is after the man from the filling station has given Haze some gas and not charged him for it, a very unusual act of kindness in this novel.

这是在一个加油站男人给了海斯一些汽油后,且没有向他要钱，这是在这部小说中非常少见的善行。

耶鲁公开课 - 1945年后的美国小说课程节选

It is in fact a very, very difficult and derivative act of the mind to try to forget that I am looking at a sign that says 'exit' and, in fact, just looking at what is there without knowing what it is.

事实上，试图忘记那个写着存在的标志,和只知道它存在而不知道它是什么，是非常难的事情。

耶鲁公开课 - 文学理论导论课程节选