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    1. How the Camel got his hump - Class 8 - It So Happened


    📘 How the Camel Got His Hump – Notes

    Author: Rudyard Kipling

    Textbook: It So Happened (Class VIII)

    Genre: Fable / Fantasy / Allegorical Story

    📝 Summary

    This humorous fable tells the story of a lazy camel in the early days of creation, when animals were starting to work for humans. The camel lived alone in the desert and refused to help the other animals. Whenever someone spoke to him, he only said “Humph!”

    The Horse, Dog, and Ox were annoyed because they had to do extra work to make up for the camel’s idleness. They complained to the Djinn of All Deserts, who confronted the camel. When the camel arrogantly said “Humph!” again, the Djinn magically gave him a hump on his back.

    The Djinn explained that the hump would help the camel store food and energy, allowing him to work without eating for three days — the same number of days he wasted. From then on, the camel began working, but the story jokes that he still hasn’t learned to behave.

    👤 Character Sketch: The Camel

    • Lazy – Refused to work when the world began

    • Rude – Only says “Humph!” and ignores others

    • Selfish – Causes extra burden on other animals

    • Transformed – Punished with a hump, which becomes useful

    • Symbolic – Represents people who avoid work but still benefit from others’ effort

    📚 Themes

    Theme

    Description

    Responsibility

    Everyone must contribute to shared work

    Consequences of Laziness

    Laziness leads to punishment or extra burden

    Transformation as Justice

    The camel’s hump is both a punishment and a tool

    Allegory

    The story uses animals to teach human values

    Humour and Irony

    The camel ends up doing what he tried to avoid

    ✨ Literary Devices

    Device

    Example / Function

    Fable Format

    Uses talking animals to teach a moral lesson

    Personification

    Animals and Djinn speak like humans

    Repetition

    “Humph!” repeated for comic effect

    Irony

    The camel who avoided work ends up with a hump to work longer

    Imagery

    Descriptions of the desert, animals, and the hump

    📖 Title Justification

    The title “How the Camel Got His Hump” is both literal and symbolic. It tells the origin of the camel’s hump in a playful, mythical way. More importantly, it suggests that the hump is a result of the camel’s laziness and serves as a reminder of the consequences of avoiding duty. The title effectively blends humour, mythology, and moral learning.

    ✅ One-Mark Questions

    Q1. What word did the camel keep repeating? 👉 He kept saying “Humph!”

    Q2. Who was in charge of all deserts? 👉 The Djinn was in charge of all deserts.

    Q3. Why were the Horse, Dog, and Ox angry? 👉 Because the camel refused to help and they had to work extra.

    Q4. How did the Djinn punish the camel? 👉 He gave the camel a hump.

    Q5. What benefit did the camel get from the hump? 👉 It allowed him to go without food for three days.

    ✅ Three-Mark Questions

    Q1. Why did the camel not want to work? 👉 The camel was lazy and liked to stay alone in the desert. He avoided all work and only replied “Humph!” when anyone asked for help.

    Q2. How did the Djinn solve the problem of the lazy camel? 👉 The Djinn visited the camel, warned him, and gave him a hump so he could work like others without needing food for three days. This made him capable of fulfilling his duties.

    Q3. What message does the story give to students? 👉 The story teaches that laziness and avoiding responsibility are not acceptable. Everyone should do their part, or face consequences — though, like the camel, we can still improve and contribute.

    🧠 Value-Based Question

    Q. What moral lesson does “How the Camel Got His Hump” teach us about work and fairness? 👉 The story teaches that all work is dignified, and refusing to do one’s share creates unfair pressure on others. It reminds us that those who avoid work may still be forced to catch up, and that responsible behaviour is essential in any community.


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