Descent Into Madness Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tears for Fears

Tears for Fears was formed in 1981 by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal who had met as teenagers and played in several bands together. "Mad World" was their third single, but first chart success reaching the top 40 in seven countries by 1983.

In 2001, the song was covered by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for the film "Donnie Darko". The song was so popular on the movie's soundtrack that it was released as a single in 2003 where it reached numbed one on the UK charts.

Curt Smith is quoted as saying "It's very much a voyeur's song. It's looking out at a mad world from the eyes of a teenager".

"Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had"

Answer: Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy came from a working class background so, while he showed early academic capabilities, the family could not afford to send him to university. He left school at 16 and took an apprentice to, and later became, an architect.

Hardy considered himself a poet who wrote novels because of the money they made. "Far From the Madding Crowd" was his first literary success and made him financially secure enough to retire from architecture and concentrate on his writing. He wrote another ten novels and multiple short stories and poetry collections after this time

The title of the novel comes from "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray:

"Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife
Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray;
Along the cool sequester'd vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way"

Answer: Castle

Ludwig II became King of Bavaria upon his father's death in 1864; he was only 18 at this time. He is also known as the Swan King, the Dream King and the Fairy Tale King. He was brought up in a secluded castle with very little human contact and was thus very shy and had problems relating to and communicating with other people.

Ludwig began building his extravagant fairytale castles - Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, and Herrenchiemsee - in 1868. Falkenstein, a fourth castle, had been planned but was never built. Neuschwanstein Castle built high on a hill above the village of Hohenschwangau is his most famous and was used as the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland.

Although he is often referred to as 'Mad King Ludwig' there is no actual medical proof that he was insane. He was deposed in 1886 on the grounds of mental illness but was never examined. Three days later his body was found in the lake under very suspicious circumstances so the question remains as to his exact state of mind. His cousin, the Empress Elisabeth of Austria, stated "The King was not mad; he was just an eccentric living in a world of dreams".

Answer: Rabies

Rabies is a virus that is passed from warm blooded animals to humans, usually by a bite, that travels via the peripheral nerves and eventually infects the central nervous system and causes inflammation of the brain. The disease is fatal to humans if it is not treated before the onset of severe symptoms.

Early symptoms include headaches, tiredness and fever while the later stages involve severe pain, abrupt violent movements of the limbs and uncontrolled mania. This last stage is why the disease was literally named 'madness'.

Answer: The March Hare

Lewis Carroll never actually used the phrase "Mad Hatter" in his book - he is referred to as Hatta the Hatter. The Cheshire Cat describes Hatta and the March Hare as "both mad" when he introduces them. While many people assume the terms "Mad as a hatter" and "Mad as a march hare" are taken from Carroll's book the phrases was actually in use before "Alice" was written.

The pair are stuck at 6.00 pm forever after the Queen of Hearts sentenced Hatta to death for "murdering the time" at her birthday party. He manages to escape execution but in revenge Time refuses to change for them and they are forever stuck at tea time having tea parties.

Answer: Englishmen

Sir Noel Coward was a multi-talented English entertainer. His work in the theatre included writing, acting and directing and he also had skills in composing and singing. "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" became his signature piece in later years.

The song was the origin of the saying "Only Mad dogs and Englishmen" referring to anything one considers a crazy idea. It was also used as the title of a Joe Cocker album in 1970, two separate movies in 1971 and 1995 and a 2002 Dr Who novel.

"Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
The Japanese don't care to, the Chinese wouldn't dare to,
Hindus and Argentines sleep firmly from twelve to one,
But Englishmen detest a siesta"

Answer: Lord Byron

Lady Caroline Lamb was a late 18th century British novelist but she is best remembered for her passionate love affair with Lord Byron.

Lady Caroline had an impeccable aristocratic background and married the Hon. William Lamb, heir to the 1st Viscount Melbourne, at the age of 19. Her husband was an up and coming politician who would later become the British prime minister after her death. The marriage was a love match and the pair were happily married for the first five years.

Her affair with Byron occurred in 1812 when she was 27 and he 24. It only lasted for five months before he put an end to it, but Lady Caroline would remain obsessed by him for the rest of her life.

Answer: Spy v Spy

"MAD" is an American magazine that began life in 1952 as a comic book. It was re-launched in its modern form in 1955. The magazine is based on satire and parodies of American culture, politics and public figures with no topic being held sacred.

It has a number of regular features besides "Spy v Spy", including "the Lighter Side of..." the "Mad Fold-in" and TV and Movie sections. Then it includes particular articles sending up whatever person or current event the writers have chosen to lampoon in that issue.

Answer: Mel Gibson

Mad Max was a low budget action movie that became a huge financial success; it held the "Guinness Book of Records" record for the "highest profit-to-cost ratio of a motion picture" for 20 years.

The movie is set in the future where a complete breakdown of society has enabled a violent motorcycle gang to terrorise the town where Max Rockatansky and his partner 'Goose' Rains are members of the Main Force Patrol (law enforcement agency). The gang commits horrific crimes against the town and those close to Max who eventually snaps and sets out on a mission of revenge.

The movie stunned audiences and critics alike - Phillip Adams stated that the film would be "a special favourite of rapists, sadists, child murderers and incipient Mansons". It did develop a cult following and lead to two sequels: "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior" (1981) and "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome" (1985). "Mad Max 4: Fury Road" has been in pre-production since 2003.

Mel Gibson attended the audition to accompany a friend and was covered in bruises after being involved in a pub fight the night before. Apparently the casting agent told him "we need freaks" and he landed the part. His friend, Steve Bisley, won the role of Goose.

Answer: Monk

Rasputin was a mystic whose life became entwined with the last of the Romanov dynasty - Nicolas II, Alexandra and their son Alexei. There are those who argue that his involvement with the family and his influence over them helped lead to their demise.

Rasputin spent time in a monastery when he was 18 and had a vision of the Virgin Mary which led to his life as a religious pilgrim, psychic and healer.

Alexei Romanov suffered from haemophilia which was untreatable at the time and he was expected to die. Alexandra had heard of Rasputin and brought him to see her son. He was repeatedly successful in bringing Alexei through each time he sustained an injury. Alexandra truly believed that God spoke to her through Rasputin and he had a huge amount of influence over her and the family.

The Russian nobility was worried that this amount of influence was a threat to the Russian empire and a group of them lured Rasputin to a private party. There are many different accounts of the events that took place there that night but three days later his body was recovered from a river - beaten, poisoned and shot four times.