Do you think one can envision a world without a divine plan? Without divine transcendence are men and women condemned to immorality and violence? Can violence and war lead to freedom and justice? When is rebellion justified? Is authentic art the expression of subconscious drives? In this class, we will discuss these themes and other related issues through close readings of masterpieces of French literature published during the interwar era, 1914-1944 (novels, essays and plays by Gide, Yourcenar, Sartre, Beauvoir and Camus). Special attention will be devoted to Surrealism (Breton, Éluard, Aragon, Char, Michaux) and Existentialism.