How Daunting is English Literature?

English Literature: The untold story English Literature is one of those subjects, which many people tend to regard as "impossibly difficult to understand", "has no specific use in one's future" and "intensely and totally boring" (quotes courtesy of my friends who has never done E. Lit). The question is, how true are these accusations? First of all, E. Lit (despite the exaggerated rumours) is NOT "impossibly difficult" at all. Difficult? Well, maybe, but not to …

…as an example: From Romeo's wonderfully romantic accolade to Juliet's beauty- "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?" to Macbeth's haunted musings before killing Duncan- "Is this a dagger, which I see before me?" and King Henry V's rousing and poignant battle speech to his troops- "Once more unto the breach dear friends..." All this is enough to keep us awake until the final speech is delivered and the curtains finally set down. Naeem