How The Camel Got His Hump Class 8 Chapter Notes

Detailed Plot Summary

Rudyard Kipling's "How The Camel Got His Hump" is set in the beginning of the world, when animals had just started working for Man. All animals, including the Horse, the Dog, and the Ox, were busy doing their assigned tasks. However, one animal, the Camel, lived in the middle of the Howling Desert and did absolutely no work. He was incredibly idle and would only say "Humph!" whenever anyone spoke to him or asked him to contribute.

His idleness caused problems for the other working animals. The Horse had to carry his own load and also the Camel's share of work on Monday. The Dog had to fetch and carry for two, and the Ox had to plough for two. Frustrated, they all complained to the Man, who was their master. The Man, feeling sorry for them, told them to work 'double time' to compensate for the Camel's laziness, which only made the working animals more upset.

They then decided to complain to the Djinn of All Deserts, who was in charge of all deserts and possessed magical powers. The Djinn travelled to the Howling Desert and found the Camel looking at his own reflection in a pool of water, still doing nothing. The Djinn questioned the Camel about his lack of work, but the Camel, true to his nature, only replied with "Humph!"

As soon as the Camel uttered "Humph!" for the last time, his beautiful, smooth back suddenly began to puff up and swell, forming a large, ugly hump. The Djinn explained that this hump was a direct consequence of his unworked 'Humph!' The Djinn told the Camel that he would now have to work for three days without eating because he had missed three days of work at the beginning of the week. The hump would allow him to store food and water, enabling him to work for long periods without needing to eat or drink. The Djinn commanded the Camel to go and join the others and behave.

From that day onwards, the Camel always carried a hump. He still hasn't caught up with the three days of work he missed at the beginning of the world, and he still hasn't learned to behave properly.

Key Points to Remember

• The story is a 'Just So Story' by Rudyard Kipling, explaining the origin of the camel's hump.
• It is set in the early days of the world when animals began to work for Man.
• The Camel was lazy and lived in the Howling Desert, refusing to do any work.
• His only response to any suggestion or command was "Humph!".
• The Horse, Dog, and Ox complained to the Man, then to the Djinn of All Deserts.
• The Djinn decided to intervene to teach the Camel a lesson.
• The Camel's constant saying of "Humph!" caused a hump to grow on his back.
• The hump was a consequence of his idleness and was meant to help him work for three days without food/water.
• The Camel had to carry his 'Humph' always as a reminder of his past laziness.
• The story emphasizes the importance of work, responsibility, and the consequences of idleness.

Important Vocabulary

Djinn

A spirit or demon, especially one mentioned in Muslim folklore, that can take human or animal form and is subject to supernatural influence.

Idle

Not working; inactive, lazy, or doing nothing.

Humph

An expression of disdain, annoyance, or doubt, often signifying refusal or stubbornness.

Prowling

Moving about stealthily, as in search of prey or something to steal, or to explore.

Sulked

To be silent and bad-tempered out of annoyance or disappointment.

Remonstrated

To make a forceful protest; to plead in protest, objection, or reproof.

Prickles

Small, sharp points, typically on a plant or animal.

Behalf

As a representative of or instead of someone else; for the benefit of.

Sequence of Events

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Exam Tip for Story-Based Questions

When answering questions based on stories like this, focus on:

• Character Traits: Describe each character (Camel, Djinn, Horse) using appropriate adjectives (e.g., lazy, wise, hardworking).
• Moral of the Story: Clearly state the main lesson or message the story conveys (e.g., consequences of idleness, importance of responsibility).
• Sequence of Events: Be able to narrate the story chronologically or explain how one event led to another.
• Vocabulary: Understand the meaning of key words from the text and use them correctly in your answers.
• Inference: Be prepared to explain why characters acted the way they did or what their actions imply.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Where did the Camel live and what was his primary activity? A: The Camel lived in the Howling Desert and his primary activity was doing nothing, only saying "Humph!".
• Q: Who did the working animals complain to first and then second? A: They complained to the Man first, and then to the Djinn of All Deserts.
• Q: What was the immediate cause of the Camel's hump appearing? A: The immediate cause was the Djinn's magical intervention after the Camel repeatedly said "Humph!" and refused to work.
• Q: According to the Djinn, what was the purpose of the Camel's hump? A: The hump was meant to store food and water, allowing the Camel to work for three days without needing to eat or drink, to make up for the work he had missed.

Frequently Asked Questions