English literature at school: why exactly is it taught?

I did not appreciate being required to study literature at school. There were books I did enjoy reading, but not those we had to do at school. I could not see the point of it. It seemed to me that schools were trying to indoctrinate pupils as to what books they should enjoy reading. I did not insist that the teachers listen to The Cure or watch The Young Ones, so why should I have to read poems ab

English literature at school: why exactly is it taught?