Jim, Your dictionary entries are all of the form: 'key': target Your keys must be immutable like a string, tuple, number and so forth. Your target can be almost anything like a string, tuple, list, function and so forth. Since your targets are not quoted, they are not strings. In addition each target, like death, must have been defined previously in your current module or some module you have already imported. HTH Richard The ----- Original Message ----- From: Homme, James To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:59 AM Subject: Python: A Program I'd Love To Understand Hi, I have lots of questions about the current Python exercise I'm working on, so I'll just ask one at a time. Hope you have lots of patience. First question. I think I should be getting a compiler error but I'm not. I thought I had to put some sort of quotes around this code after the commas. Why is this compiling OK? ROOMS = { 'death': death, 'princess_lives_here': princess_lives_here, 'gold_koi_pond': gold_koi_pond, 'big_iron_gate': big_iron_gate, 'bear_with_sword': bear_with_sword } Thanks. Jim Jim Homme, Usability Services, Phone: 412-544-1810. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail and any attachments to it are confidential and are intended solely for use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately and then delete it. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not keep, use, disclose, copy or distribute this e-mail without the author's prior permission. The views expressed in this e-mail message do not necessarily represent the views of Highmark Inc., its subsidiaries, or affiliates.