How the Camel got his Hump | Class 8 English Notes

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This section introduces the setting and the main character of the story, the Camel, at the very beginning of the world when animals had just started working for humans. The Camel is portrayed as a lazy animal who refuses to work or contribute to the tasks assigned to other animals. Instead of performing any useful work, the Camel simply says 'Humph!' whenever spoken to, indicating his unwillingness to engage in any activity. The story begins in the middle of a Howling Desert, where the Camel lives isolated due to his laziness. The other animals, such as the Horse, Dog, and Ox, come to the Camel on different days with requests for him to join in their work—trot, fetch and carry, plough respectively—but the Camel only responds with 'Humph!' and refuses to cooperate. This behavior frustrates the other animals who then report the Camel's idleness to the Man, their master. The Man, recognizing the Camel's refusal to work, decides to leave the Camel alone and instructs the other animals to work double-time to compensate for the Camel's laziness. This unfair burden angers the Horse, Dog, and Ox, who hold a panchayat (a council meeting) to discuss the issue. The Camel mocks their efforts and continues his lazy attitude. The section ends with the arrival of the Djinn, a powerful supernatural being in charge of all deserts, who is informed about the Camel's idleness by the Horse. The Djinn expresses his disapproval of idleness and prepares to take action against the Camel. This section sets the stage for the moral and narrative development of the story by highlighting the consequences of laziness and the social impact it has on others who have to work harder because of one individual's refusal to contribute.

📊 Diagram: Figure on page 1 illustrating the beginning of the story with the Camel and other animals; Figure on page 1 explaining the term 'Djinn' as a spirit with strange powers.

🧪 Activity: Comprehension Check: Questions about the tasks assigned to the Dog and Ox, reasons for the Camel's desert residence, the cause of the animals' anger, and how the Djinn learned about the Camel's behavior.

🔗 Connection: Leads to the next section where the Djinn confronts the Camel and punishes him for his laziness, introducing the origin of the Camel's hump.