1-forms

Can anyone give me a somewhat simplistic explanation of 1-forms?  For some reason I'm really stuck on this, I understand that they're a linear transformation mapping point and a vector to R.  (I'm guessing they actually map to all of C but for sake of learning I'd appreciate it simplified as my understanding of complex analysis is virtually nonexistant at this point in time.)  I don't even understand their purpose, except that a differential is a type of 1-form.  The wikipedia article was a bit over my head & the wolfram article wasn't much help either.

>>5
>>6
I'm currently taking elementary differential geometry.  I've been able to understand most of what's going on but I've been really unsatisfied with the explanations I've been given on this particular subject.  I really like to understand the math I'm learning, & not just know how to apply it.  Given the responses here it sounds like I'm going to need a lot more background for this (or maybe I'm just stupid?), but thanks for responding.