package Dragon

sub _init {
    my $self = shift;
    foreach my $key qw(NAME AGE COLOR) {
        $self->{$key} = shift;
    }
}

##</code><code>##

package Dragon;
use strict;

sub new() {
    my $class = shift;          # get class so constructor can be inherited
    my $self = {};
    bless ($self,$class);
    $self->_init( @_ );         # call _init here or in subclass
    $self->awaken;              # arise from your slumber!
    return $self;
}

sub _init {
    my $self = shift;
    foreach my $key qw(NAME AGE COLOR) {
        $self->{$key} = shift;
    }
}

sub get_name {
    my $self = shift;
    return $self->{NAME} || "nameless";
}

sub get_age {
    my $self = shift;
    return $self->{AGE} || "ageless";
}

sub get_color {
    my $self = shift;
    return $self->{COLOR} || "obscure";
}

sub awaken {
    my $self = shift;
    ($self->get_name eq "nameless") ? print "A " : 0;
    print $self->get_name .", ";
    ($self->get_name ne "nameless") ? print "an " : 0;
    print $self->get_age .", ";
    print $self->get_color ." dragon awakens from his slumber!\n";
}
1;

##</code><code>##

package Trogdor;
use strict;
use base qw(Dragon);

sub _init {
    my $self = shift;
    $self->{NAME} = "Trogdor";
    $self->{AGE}  = "one year old";
    $self->{COLOR}= "green";
}

sub burninate {
    my $self = shift;
    print $self->get_name ." burninates the land!\n";
}
1;

##</code><code>##

#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use Dragon;
use Trogdor;

my $d = new Dragon(); # create a nameless dragon
my $smaug = new Dragon("Smaug","centuries old");   # create Smaug
my $trogdor = new Trogdor(); # create Trodgor
$trogdor->burninate(); # burninate!

##</code><code>##

Using perl 5.8.1-RC3 unless otherwise noted.
Apache/1.3.33 (Darwin) unless otherwise noted.
Mac OS X 10.3.9 unless otherwise noted.