Last fall, when visiting a graduate seminar composed of students who had just completed a course on the comedia, I was amazed at what I learned. When I asked something about the function of polymetry in La vida es sueño, the students chorused, "You mean it was written in poetry?" This brief interaction made me realize how much we take for granted when dealing with our students. When approaching theater, we must consider those aspects that distinguish it from other literary genres. We must highlight its polysemic nature as text and performance. We must guide students as they explore the various realms that comprise theater—especially since many of them have very limited experience
