in reply to XML Parser and certain nodes to a hash

XML::Simple has a ForceArray option that is helpful: http://search.cpan.org/~grantm/XML-Simple-2.20/lib/XML/Simple.pm#ForceArray_=>_1_#_in_-_important

UPDATE: your xml also has an extra </SYNSET> which troubles the parser.

In Section Seekers of Perl Wisdom