What are the best ways to study history of English literature? Please guide!

[Admiration123]

Hello all! 
I am a student of English literature. I picked up the subject without much knowledge about it. I didn't know that literature as a subject could be so diverse and demanding. Now, I cannot concentrate or pursue this wholeheartedly because I do not know the history of English literature. Please guide me on how to approach the history of literature conveniently and productively. I want to enable myself to understand various aspects of literature and literary personalities. However, without knowledge of the history of English literature, everything would appear blank or perplexing to me. Please help. How do we study the history of literature? What should be the best strategy? What books are helpful? 

[RohanGupta]

Welcome to the club, @Admiration123!
English Literature might seem an unfriendly comrade at the beginning of your academic journey. However, the more you spend time with it, the more friendly it gets.
I have studied the history of English literature with a 3-d approach:

* Understand the timeline of English literature (Who, What, When, How Long)
* Understand the context (Why, How, Why Not)
* Understand the ramifications (What then, How thereafter, Why this after that, What impacted what and whom & more)

This approach helped me a lot. I would suggest David Daiches and Cazamian, in addition to the books your syllabus recommends.
All the best!