Modernity is associated with the disenchantment of the world, the dissolution of myths and the destruction of grand narratives. Theorists have debated whether aesthetic modernism can be viewed as a fitting response to the pessimism inherent in modernity or a nihilistic pursuit in itself. We will examine a number of past and contemporary poems, plays, novels and short stories that reflect the perceived meaninglessness of modern life. The texts will include selections from the Earl of Rochester and Alexander Pope to Samuel Beckett and Cormac McCarthy. Assessment: class participation, group work, essay.