I am a tutor who likes to encourage students to engage with English literature in a fun and thoughtful way. Of course I work along the exam board guidelines, but I think it’s more important for the student to have their own ideas, and learn about the historical and social contexts of what they are studying.
Examiners look for students who can follow the current preferences for answering questions, but they definitely notice a student with their own flare for writing, their own takes on things, and who show a real passion for the subject.

English literature can take any student far, even if they don’t pursue it in academia, what it will do for their minds is priceless.