CBSE Class 8 English Supplementary Chapter 1: How the Camel Got His Hump

Understanding "How the Camel Got His Hump"

Rudyard Kipling's famous tale, "How the Camel Got His Hump," takes us to the beginning of the world when animals had just started working for humans. In the midst of this new era of labour, there was one animal, the Camel, who lived in the middle of the Howling Desert and did absolutely nothing. Whenever anyone spoke to him, he would only say, "Humph!" This made the Horse, the Ox, and the Dog frustrated because they had to do extra work to cover for the Camel's laziness.

The three animals complained to the Djinn of All Deserts, who was in charge of all the deserts. The Djinn, a magical being, decided to investigate the matter. He found the Camel looking at his own reflection in a pool of water, still muttering "Humph!" to any suggestion of work. The Djinn warned the Camel about his idleness and the consequences of not working. Despite the warning, the Camel stubbornly repeated, "Humph!" One day, as a result of his persistent refusal to work and his constant 'Humph!', a large hump grew on his back. The Djinn explained that this hump was a result of his 'humph' and would allow him to work for three days without eating, compensating for the work he had missed.

This story is a humorous yet profound way of teaching children about the importance of contributing, the dangers of laziness, and how responsibilities can shape our lives, sometimes in unexpected ways. It highlights that everyone has a role to play and avoiding duties only leads to more significant problems in the long run.

Analyzing Key Characters and Their Roles

1. The Camel: The Epitome of Idleness — Step 1: Identify the Camel's primary characteristic. He is lazy, proud, and avoids all work. He lives in the desert, eats thorns, and repeatedly says 'Humph!' instead of responding properly or working. Step 2: Observe his interactions. He ignores the Horse, Ox, and Dog, burdening them with his share of work. This shows a lack of consideration and teamwork. Step 3: Note the consequence. His stubborn refusal to work leads to the development of a 'Humph!', a physical manifestation of his idleness. This 'hump' now allows him to carry on working for days without food, symbolizing the burden of his past laziness.
2. The Horse, Ox, and Dog: Diligence and Complaint — Step 1: Recognize their work ethic. These animals are hardworking and responsible, diligently carrying out their assigned tasks (carrying loads, ploughing fields, fetching). They represent discipline and cooperation. Step 2: Understand their frustration. They are forced to do extra work because of the Camel's laziness, which makes them tired and resentful. Step 3: Their role in the plot. They are the ones who voice their grievances to the Djinn, acting as catalysts for the Djinn's intervention and the Camel's eventual transformation. They represent the voice of reason and justice.
3. The Djinn of All Deserts: The Dispenser of Justice — Step 1: Identify the Djinn's power and responsibility. He is the master of all deserts and has the power to solve problems among animals, acting as a figure of authority and cosmic order. Step 2: His method of intervention. He first attempts to reason with the Camel, giving him a chance to change his ways. When reasoning fails, he uses his magic to bring about a consequence for the Camel's actions. Step 3: The lesson he imparts. The Djinn's action ensures that no animal can escape their duties and that there are natural, sometimes magical, consequences for idleness. He embodies fairness and the principle of 'as you sow, so shall you reap'.

Exam Tip: Focus on Moral Lessons and Character Traits

When answering questions about "How the Camel Got His Hump," always pay close attention to the moral of the story. Questions often revolve around themes of hard work, laziness, responsibility, and the consequences of our actions. Be prepared to explain why the Camel got his hump and what this symbolizes. Also, analyze the character traits of each animal – the Camel's idleness, the other animals' diligence, and the Djinn's fairness. Using specific examples from the story to support your points will fetch you higher marks. Don't just retell the plot; explain its deeper meaning.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: What was the Camel's main problem, and how did it affect the other animals?
  A: Step 1: Identify the Camel's core issue from the story. The Camel's main problem was his extreme laziness and his refusal to do any work.
  Step 2: Explain the impact on others. This meant the Horse, Ox, and Dog had to work extra hours, 'three days' extra work' to be precise, to compensate for the Camel's idleness.
  Final answer: The Camel's main problem was his idleness; he refused to work. This forced the Horse, Ox, and Dog to do his share of work, making them tired and frustrated.

• Q: Why did the Djinn visit the Camel, and what was his initial warning?
  A: Step 1: Recall why the Djinn became involved. The other animals (Horse, Ox, Dog) complained to the Djinn about the Camel's laziness.
  Step 2: State the Djinn's warning. The Djinn warned the Camel that if he didn't start working, he would face a consequence.
  Final answer: The Djinn visited the Camel because the other animals complained about his laziness. His initial warning was that if the Camel didn't start working, he would have a 'humph' on his back.

• Q: How did the 'humph' help the Camel, despite being a punishment?
  A: Step 1: Understand the immediate effect of the hump. The hump was a consequence of his past laziness, making him carry his 'three days of humph' (missed work).
  Step 2: Identify the practical benefit explained by the Djinn. The Djinn explained that the hump would allow the Camel to work for three days without eating, as it contained stored food.
  Final answer: The 'humph' helped the Camel by allowing him to work for three days without needing to eat. This was the Djinn's way of making up for the three days of work the Camel had missed at the beginning of the world.

• Q: What moral lesson can we learn from the story "How the Camel Got His Hump"?
  A: Step 1: Consider the Camel's actions and their outcome. The Camel was lazy and avoided responsibility, leading to a negative consequence (the hump).
  Step 2: Think about the other animals and the Djinn's intervention. The hardworking animals were rewarded, and the Djinn enforced fairness.
  Final answer: The moral lesson is that laziness and avoiding responsibility can lead to unpleasant consequences. It teaches us the importance of hard work, contributing our share, and that everyone has a role to play in a community or team.

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