$ perl -c -e " use strict; use warnings; BEGIN { $sumeet = 1; } $grover = 1; } " Global symbol "$sumeet" requires explicit package name at -e line 1. BEGIN not safe after errors--compilation aborted at -e line 1. $ perl -c -e " use strict; use warnings; BEGIN { our $sumeet = 1; } $grover = 1; } " Global symbol "$grover" requires explicit package name at -e line 1. Unmatched right curly bracket at -e line 1, at end of line syntax error at -e line 1, near "; }" -e had compilation errors. $ perl -c -e " use strict; use warnings; BEGIN { our $sumeet = 1; } $grover = 1; " Global symbol "$grover" requires explicit package name at -e line 1. -e had compilation errors. $ perl -c -e " use strict; use warnings; BEGIN { our $sumeet = 1; } our $grover = 1; " -e syntax OK