Are there any good editions or guides to Paradise Lost that have a lot of footnotes or explain certain references in detail?
Yes
every 11th grade high school English class
get off 4chan and do your homework
>>7600589
Dude, I'm not even in high school, I just want to read Paradise Lost and have a decent grasp on the references so I understand things better.
>>7600608
yeah, this is pretty detailed, thanks
>>7600570
Go for the Oxford edition
Also dont listen to that asshole. In highschool juniors typically read the first half of book one. Theres 12 books and it is certainly at an adult reading level
Milton "scholar" here (not really, but basically all of my academic work has been on him). The Milton Reading Room (as >>7600608 linked) will do if you just want archaic/idiosyncratic language use explained, but it won't give you a good insight into Milton's philosophy, religion or even his (extremely numerous) classical allusions. It also won't put you up to date with Milton criticism, which a proper edition will. Both the OUP (eds. Orgel & Goldberg) or the Penguin (ed. Leonard) have very in-depth explanatory notes, though I suggest trying to read as much of it in sequence as you can without looking towards the notes. It's better to let the rolling thunder of his "God-gifted organ-voice" overwhelm you first, even if it means only understanding it later.
