The popular analytic way of English literature teaching characterized by detailed studying of a particular passage and specific practicing of individual items neglects the overall treatment of the material more or less. This paper makes a tentative exploration of the ways of extending the studednts understanding to wider social and cultural associtions of the whole West world and literary works in general, thus sharpening the students literary sensbility and increasing their flexbility and creativity. Promoting free interactive reading is discussed first, including literary or non - literary materials any way the students like, communicating what they think to other studednts and setting compulsory requirements of the amount of reading. Another problem under discussion is how to read a work in both literary and non- literary ways, through which the students could compare the literariness of what they read, form a bigger framework of understanding and become more independent in reading. Problems discussed are aiso such concing how to make full use of the collective beliefs,shared feelings and significant ideas of the society to help the students derive diverse interpretations of a work and become more creative in literary reading.