How the Camel got his Hump | Class 8 English Notes

II

This section narrates the encounter between the Djinn and the Camel, which leads to the origin of the Camel's hump. The Djinn, who oversees all deserts, finds the Camel looking at his own reflection in a pool of water, suggesting a moment of self-awareness or vanity. The Djinn questions the Camel about his refusal to work and points out that his idleness has caused extra work for the other animals since Monday morning. Despite the Djinn's remonstrations, the Camel responds with his usual 'Humph!'. The Djinn warns the Camel not to say 'Humph!' again, but the Camel repeats it, and immediately his back begins to puff up, forming a large lump—the hump. The Djinn explains that this hump is a direct consequence of the Camel's laziness and that it will serve a purpose: it will allow the Camel to go for three days without eating, compensating for the three days of work he missed at the beginning of the world. The Djinn commands the Camel to start working and join the other animals. The Camel accepts his new condition and goes to join the others, but the story notes that although the Camel now has a hump, he has never caught up with the work he missed and has not learned to behave properly. This section emphasizes the theme of consequences for laziness and introduces the hump as a symbol of the Camel's past idleness but also as a useful adaptation. The narrative style remains simple and rhythmic, suitable for children, with a moral undertone about responsibility and the importance of work.

📊 Diagram: Figure on page 4 showing the Djinn confronting the Camel; Figure on page 5 depicting the Camel's back puffing up into a hump.

🧪 Activity: Comprehension Check: Questions about the Camel's reflection, the effect of saying 'Humph!', the purpose of the hump, and the writer's opinion about the Camel's behavior.

🔗 Connection: Leads to the concluding moral lessons and group discussion activities that encourage reflection on work ethics and personal responsibility.