CBSE Class 8 How The Camel Got His Hump Summary

Are you struggling to understand the core message of Rudyard Kipling’s famous fable? This class 8 How the Camel Got His Hump summary breaks down the narrative of the "How the Camel Got His Hump" chapter from the "It So Happened" supplementary reader, helping you grasp the themes of laziness and responsibility.

Class 8 How The Camel Got His Hump Summary

This How the camel got his Hump short summary uses simple language to help Class 8 students grasp the main events, characters, and ideas of the story:

The Beginning of the World

When the world was brand new, animals had just started working for humans. Most animals were diligent, but one particular Camel lived in the middle of a "Howling Desert" because he did not want to work. He spent his days eating thorns and milkweed. Whenever anyone spoke to him, he replied with a single, annoying word: "Humph!"

Three specific animals tried to convince him to join the workforce:

• The Dog: Came with a stick in his mouth and asked the camel to fetch and carry.

• The Horse: Came with a saddle on his back and asked the camel to trot.

• The Ox: Came with a yoke on his neck and asked the camel to plough.

The camel just said "Humph" to every request. The Man told the three animals they would have to work twice as hard to make up for the camel's lethargy. The animals were really upset about this.

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The Djinn's Intervention

The animals, who were angry, gathered a panchayat on the edge of the desert. The Djinn, the spirit who rules over all deserts, showed up at this gathering in a cloud of dust. The horse told the Djinn about the lazy animal that wouldn't perform any labour.

The Djinn went to the middle of the desert and found the camel looking at his own reflection in a pool of water. Even when the Djinn confronted him about his laziness, the camel gave his standard reply: "Humph!"

The Magical Punishment

The Djinn warned the camel not to say that word again, but the camel repeated "Humph" once more. Suddenly, the camel saw his beautiful back puffing up into a great big "humph" (hump). The Djinn explained that this was the camel's own "humph" that he had brought upon himself by not working.

Key takeaways from the Djinn's lesson:

• The hump was a storehouse of food, allowing the camel to work for three days without eating.

• The camel could never complain about the hump because it was a result of his own choices.

• The purpose was to enable the camel to catch up on the work he missed at the beginning of the world.

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Themes and Lessons in Class 8 How The Camel Got His Hump 

This fable serves as a moral lesson for students. It highlights that laziness is not a virtue and that every living being has a responsibility to contribute to society. The chapter often focuses on the magical element, but the real depth lies in the concept of accountability.

Even today, the camel carries his hump (now called a hump to avoid hurting his feelings). However, according to Kipling, the camel has never yet caught up with the three days he missed at the start of the world, and he has never yet learned how to behave properly. This class 8 How the Camel Got His Hump summary also reinforces why teamwork and responsibility are essential values for students.

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Practical Insights on How The Camel Got His Hump 

For your exams, remember that this story is a "Just So" story. These are fictional explanations for how things came to be. When writing a summary, focus on the transition from the "Howling Desert" to the camel becoming a working animal.

Character Sketch of the Camel:

1. Lazy: He preferred eating thorns over helping the Man.

2. Stubborn: He ignored the Dog, Horse, and Ox.

3. Vain: He was caught looking at his reflection in the water.

4. Arrogant: He thought he could get away with doing nothing forever.

By studying this class 8 How the Camel Got His Hump short summary, you can see that the story is a blend of humour and discipline. The Djinn acted as a fair judge who turned a negative trait (laziness) into a functional tool (the hump). This ensures the camel can now work efficiently, though he still carries the mark of his past idleness.

If you are revising before exams, this CBSE class 8 How the Camel Got His Hump summary will make the storyline and moral easy to remember.

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