Lines Written During a Period of Insanity MCQs and Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: March 6, 2025

Summary:

“Lines Written During a Period of Insanity” is a deeply personal poem by William Cowper, reflecting his struggles with mental illness, depression, and despair. The poem offers an intense insight into Cowper’s psychological suffering and feelings of spiritual torment.

• The poet describes his inner turmoil and hopelessness, emphasizing the darkness that has overtaken his mind.
• He expresses a loss of faith and a feeling of abandonment by God, despite his deep religious beliefs.
• The poem captures his sense of isolation, suffering, and self-condemnation, as he sees himself as beyond salvation.
• Cowper uses powerful imagery and raw emotion to depict the anguish of a person trapped in mental and emotional despair.
• The poem is a poignant representation of mental illness in the 18th century, showing how deeply it affected personal faith and self-worth.

MCQs:

1. Who is the poet of Lines Written During a Period of Insanity?
   A) William Blake
   B) William Cowper
   C) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
   D) Lord Byron
   Answer: B) William Cowper
2. What is the main theme of the poem?
   A) Political revolution
   B) Spiritual despair and mental illness
   C) Romantic love
   D) The beauty of nature
   Answer: B) Spiritual despair and mental illness
3. Which emotion dominates the poem?
   A) Joy and excitement
   B) Grief and despair
   C) Anger and rebellion
   D) Hope and optimism
   Answer: B) Grief and despair

   

4. What does Cowper struggle with in the poem?
   A) Political injustice
   B) A lost love
   C) Mental illness and religious doubt
   D) War and destruction
   Answer: C) Mental illness and religious doubt
5. Which literary device is most prominent in the poem?
   A) Satire
   B) Imagery and symbolism
   C) Allegory
   D) Hyperbole
   Answer: B) Imagery and symbolism
6. What does Cowper believe about his relationship with God in this poem?
   A) He is assured of his salvation
   B) He feels abandoned and beyond redemption
   C) He is confident in divine mercy
   D) He is indifferent to religion
   Answer: B) He feels abandoned and beyond redemption
7. Which mental condition influenced the writing of this poem?
   A) Bipolar disorder
   B) Schizophrenia
   C) Severe depression and religious melancholia
   D) Narcissistic personality disorder
   Answer: C) Severe depression and religious melancholia
8. What does the poem reveal about 18th-century views on mental health?
   A) Mental illness was openly discussed and accepted
   B) There was little understanding, and sufferers often felt isolated
   C) People were treated with advanced medical care
   D) Society supported those with mental struggles
   Answer: B) There was little understanding, and sufferers often felt isolated
9. What kind of imagery does Cowper use in the poem?
   A) Bright, joyful landscapes
   B) Dark, oppressive, and hopeless imagery
   C) Surreal and mythical imagery
   D) Scientific and logical descriptions
   Answer: B) Dark, oppressive, and hopeless imagery
10. How does the poem end?
    A) With a resolution and hope for the future
    B) With continued despair and hopelessness
    C) With a romantic conclusion
    D) With a sudden shift to happiness
    Answer: B) With continued despair and hopelessness