Fetching random lines from Shakespeare
This is a simple PHP script to return a given number of random lines from a Shakespeare play for a given character. It is scoped to a single work (Othello). Given a number of lines to fetch and a character, this will return an array of the given size with random lines for the given character.
This is relatively generic given the expected data structure, so it could be made to work with other data files by parameterizing the file name, assuming the files were all available.
To Do
- don't allow for duplicate lines returned
- sanity cap for number of lines requested
- message for when no lines are found
Usage
Assuming you have PHP installed, you can call the example usage script like this:
bash$ php useRandomOthello.php 5 Clown
... where 5 is how many lines you want returned, and Clown is the character who's lines you'd like to see. These are the available characters in the transcript:
Othello
Iago
Cassio
Brabantio
Roderigo
Lodovico
Duke of Venice
Montano
Gratiano
Desdemona
Emilia
Bianca
Clown
First Musician
Officer
Sailor
First Senator
Second Senator
First Gentleman
Second Gentleman
Third Gentleman
First Messenger
Second Messenger
Herald