How the Camel Got His Hump Notes | Class 8 English

1. Introduction

"How the Camel Got His Hump" is a delightful "just-so story" written by the famous English author Rudyard Kipling. The story is set in the beginning of the world, when animals were first made to work for human beings. The camel, however, was lazy. Living in the middle of a Howling Desert, the camel refused to work. When the horse, the dog and the ox asked him to help, he only replied with a rude word: "Humph!"

The story explains how the lazy camel got his hump. When the camel said "Humph" too many times, the Djinn of All Deserts, who was responsible for all deserts, decided to punish him. He gave the camel a "humph" on his back - a great big bump - so that the camel would have to work to pay for his laziness. The hump stores food for three days, so the camel can live without eating while he works. The story is a humorous tale with a moral about laziness and hard work.

2. About the Author

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was one of the most popular English writers of his time. He was born in Bombay, India, and spent much of his childhood there. Kipling is famous for "The Jungle Book", "Kim" and his wonderful "Just So Stories", which explain, in a playful way, how animals got their special features. "How the Camel Got His Hump" is one of these stories. Kipling won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907, becoming the first English writer to do so.

3. Summary

The Lazy Camel

In the beginning of the world, when animals began to work for man, the camel lived in the middle of the Howling Desert. He was very lazy and did not want to work. When the horse came and asked the camel to work, the camel just said "Humph!" and refused. The dog came next and asked the camel to work, but again the camel said "Humph!" The ox also came and asked the camel to help, but the camel refused once more with his rude word.

The Animals Complain

The horse, the dog and the ox were very angry at the camel's laziness. They went to the Djinn of All Deserts and complained about the camel. They told the Djinn that the camel would not work and only said "Humph!" The Djinn decided to go and speak to the camel himself.

The Djinn's Visit

The Djinn of All Deserts found the camel looking at his reflection in a pool of water. The Djinn told the camel to work like the other animals. But the camel again said "Humph!" three times. The Djinn then declared that since the camel had said "Humph" so many times, he would now have to carry a hump on his back.

The Camel Gets His Hump

The Djinn made a great big hump grow on the camel's back. He explained that the hump was a punishment for the camel's idleness. The camel would have to work for three days without eating, because the hump would store enough food for him. From that day, the camel had to work, and he always carried his hump. The story ends with a gentle warning: never say "Humph" too often, or you too may get a hump!

4. Characters

Character	Role	Key Traits
The Camel	The lazy animal	Lazy, rude, idleness
The Horse	First to ask for help	Hard-working, responsible
The Dog	Second to complain	Hard-working, fair
The Ox	Third to complain	Hard-working, patient
The Djinn	The all-powerful being	Just, magical, powerful

Character Sketches and Their Lessons

Every character in this story carries a clear message. The camel is the picture of laziness and rudeness; he lives alone in the middle of the desert and refuses every request to help. His single word "Humph" is not just a refusal - it is an insult, a short, sharp answer that shows his complete disregard for the work of the other animals. The horse, the dog and the ox, by contrast, represent diligence and cooperation. Each of them approaches the camel politely and explains what the man expects, proving that hard-working creatures take their responsibilities seriously and are ready to help one another.

The Djinn of All Deserts is the most powerful figure in the story, yet he is also just and patient. He does not punish the camel at once; he first listens to the complaints and then gives the camel a chance to mend his ways. When the camel answers "Humph" three times, the Djinn finally acts, turning the camel's own word into the very hump he must carry forever. This is a delightful piece of wordplay - the sound the camel makes is transformed into the shape he must bear. Through these characters, Kipling teaches children that idleness has a price, that rudeness never wins friends, and that those who work honestly and help others are the true heroes of any community.

5. Themes

The central theme is the punishment of laziness. The camel's refusal to work leads directly to his hump. A second theme is hard work and responsibility: the other animals show that every creature must do its share of work. A third theme is the consequences of rude behaviour: the camel's rude "Humph" becomes the source of his punishment. The theme of humour and moral teaching also runs through the story, which teaches while it entertains.

6. Literary Devices

Device	Example	Effect
Personification	Animals talk and work like humans	Makes the story lively
Humour	The camel's rude "Humph"	Creates a comic effect
Repetition	"Humph!" repeated three times	Emphasises the camel's stubbornness
Dialogue	Conversations between animals	Advances the plot
Moral	The warning at the end	Teaches a lesson

7. Quick Revision Tables

Table 1: The Animals and Their Roles

Animal	What It Asked the Camel	Camel's Reply
Horse	To work with the man	"Humph!"
Dog	To work and carry things	"Humph!"
Ox	To plough the field	"Humph!"
Djinn	To work like the others	"Humph!" (three times)

Table 2: The Hump and Its Purpose

Fact	Detail
Who gave the hump	The Djinn of All Deserts
Why	Punishment for laziness
What it stores	Food for three days
How long the camel can work without eating	Three days

8. Mind Map

graph TD A[How the Camel Got His Hump] --> B[Beginning of the world] B --> C[Camel is lazy in the desert] C --> D[Horse, dog, ox ask him to work] D --> E[Camel says Humph - refuses] E --> F[Animals complain to the Djinn] F --> G[Djinn tells camel to work] G --> H[Camel says Humph three times] H --> I[Djinn gives him a hump] I --> J[Hump stores food for 3 days] J --> K[Moral: Avoid laziness]

9. Important Diagrams (SVG)

Diagram 1: The Story Flow

Diagram 2: The Hump - Punishment and Purpose

10. Common Mistakes

Students often say the camel worked willingly; the camel was lazy and refused to work.
Many think the Djinn was angry without reason; the Djinn punished the camel after it refused three times.
A common error is to say the hump is a growth of fat only; in the story it stores food so the camel can work three days without eating.
Students sometimes say the horse, dog and ox also got humps; only the camel got a hump.
Many forget the name "Djinn of All Deserts".
Students often say the story teaches about the desert; the real lesson is about laziness and hard work.
Some students claim the camel said "Yes" to the animals; the camel answered every request with the rude word "Humph!"

11. Exam Tips

Mention the author Rudyard Kipling and his "Just So Stories" at the start.
Describe the camel's laziness and his rude reply "Humph!".
Explain the role of the Djinn of All Deserts in the punishment.
State the purpose of the hump - storing food for three days.
Use the moral - avoid laziness and work hard - in your conclusion.
Note the humour and personification used in the story.

12. Conclusion

"How the Camel Got His Hump" is a funny and wise "just-so story" that explains the camel's hump in an imaginative way. Rudyard Kipling uses talking animals, a powerful Djinn and a rude camel to teach a timeless lesson about laziness and responsibility. The camel's refusal to work earns him a heavy hump that he must carry forever, a humorous reminder that idleness has consequences. The story delights children with its playful explanation while gently teaching the value of hard work and cooperation. It reminds us that everyone must do their share of work in the world.

How the Camel Got His Hump — Study Notes