The paper considers questions associated with the opportunities of teaching literature at school using variable models of methodological system of schoolchildren's literary development. Literature teaching packages for grades 5 to 11 currently used in Russian schools – ones edited by G. I. Belenkiy (2006), V. Ya. Korovina (2009), A. G. Kutuzov (2007, 2010) and V. G. Marantsman (2005) – have been analyzed. For analysis, 13 author criteria were singled out that allow characterizing the variability extent of the teaching models employed for ensuring successful literary development of schoolchildren within the educational curriculum of the contemporary school. The results of the research presented give convincing evidence about the necessity of upgrading the current teaching packages in literature for grades 5 to 11 in relation to their variability, which will allow enhancing the quality of school social and humanitarian education.