Graduate Student, English Language and Literature
D.Phil Candidate
Lincoln College
Thesis Title: Dream and Vision in Scotland, c.1375 - 1513
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Sally Mapstone
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About
My D.Phil thesis argues for a distinctive Scottish response to literary dream and vision states in the medieval and early-modern period. My research examines a range of texts in both Latin and Scots, including, in addition to dream-poetry itself: romance, chronicle, courtly verse, epic, and devotional writing. Material evidence, book history and historical context are central to my work: how were these texts read, when, and by whom? What do surviving manuscript and print witnesses tell us about early Scottish readers - and writers?
I graduated from St Andrews with an M.A. (first class Honours) in English, with the Lorimer Prize for Scottish Literature. After that, I came to Oxford with AHRC funding for a Master's degree in Medieval English (650-1550) which I passed with Distinction. I've stayed in Oxford to pursue a D.Phil (PhD) on Scottish dream and vision. I've been extremely fortunate in having my research made possible by funding from the AHRC; Scottish International Education Trust; Lincoln College, Oxford; and the English Faculty, Oxford.
My next project is on the Scottish reception of Boethius's "Consolation of Philosophy", c.1120-c.1550. This project will lead to a monograph and editions of two Scottish Boethian commentaries. It arises from my exciting discovery of a manuscript witness which I have identified as Scotland's only extant Boethius commentary.
