This course introduces students to plays and novels of contemporary European and American authors whose works expose the absurdity of conventional social and literary modes but also suggest positive human values. The objectives of the course include: (1) a definition of the meaning of the absurd; (2) an understanding of the absurdist theme of the meaninglessness in man's systems of communication; (3) an identification of some problems of modern man by comparing and contrasting the traditional hero with the contemporary hero; and (4) a recognition, through psychological lessons learned within the literature, of man's inherent character traits. The outline includes a rationale for the course and detailed teaching strategies for each of the objectives. The strategies include readings, informal dramatizations, written assignments, discussions, word games, multimedia presentations, and numerous other techniques. A bibliography of teacher and student resources, including textbooks, professional books, dramas, novels, films, and records, is included. (Author/DI)