Advice from almost every mathematician in the world

What should you do when you are confronted with a problem in abstract mathematics that you can't quite get a handle on? The answer is nearly universal: work out an example or a special case (i.e., reduce the level of abstraction).

Though that of itself does not constitute the solution of the problem, it may shed enough light on the general situation to enable you to proceed. On the other hand, you may have to adjust or alter the example in order to see light.

This is all part of the mathematical process. And, yes, you still could be left in the dark. As in any math course, the goal is to move towards a solution.