Mental Illness in History

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. George III (1738-1820), King of England, was known to be "mad" and delusional. Do you know what disease he actually suffered from? syphilis cancer tuberculosis porphyria

2. "Mad" King Ludwig II of Bavaria was known for his excess and his lovely castles - Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, and Herrenchiemsee - as well as his insanity. He was admittedly obsessed with the German composer Richard Wagner, one of his operas in particular. Do you know which one? Götterdämmerung Parsifal Lohengrin Tristan und Isolde

3. Queen Maria Eleonore of Brandenburg was believed to have suffered from this condition. psychosis catatonia paranoid schizophrenia post-partum depression

4. Many creative people such as artists, writers, and composers seem to have been afflicted with various mental illnesses. One of these was this composer, known as "the inspired poet of human suffering", who died in a sanitarium. Sibelius Ravel Brahms Schumann

5. This famous author discussed his battle with depression in his memoir, "A Confession". Mark Twain Anton Chekov William Shakespeare Leo Tolstoy

6. This famous dancer, said to have been schizophrenic, spent much of his life in institutions. Vernon Castle Fred Astaire Vaclav Nijinsky Mikhail Baryshnikov

7. Artist Vincent Van Gogh was a very troubled and sad man. Surely everyone has heard the story of Van Gogh cutting off his own ear in a fit of despair- but do you know who the recipient of this macabre gift was? a prostitute his mother his brother Paul Gauguin

8. Which of these famous people was NOT manic-depressive? T.S. Eliot Victor Hugo Charles Dickens Robert Burns

9. Coincidentally (or maybe not coincidentally), this US President and his wife both suffered from major mental illness. George and Martha Washington Herbert and Lou Hoover Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower Abe and Mary Lincoln

10. This famous English scientist and naturalist was believed to have suffered from panic disorder and agoraphobia. Answer: (Both names, or just last)