The Camel’s Hump
Rudyard Kipling's poem 'The Camel’s Hump' humorously explores the theme of boredom and its effects on people. The 'hump' in the poem symbolizes the lethargy and dissatisfaction that arise from having nothing to do. Kipling uses playful language and repetition to emphasize how inactivity can lead to a grumpy and unpleasant demeanor, akin to the unattractive hump of a camel. The poem suggests that the remedy for this 'hump' is to engage in physical activity, which can lift one's spirits and remove the metaphorical hump. The poem's playful tone and rhythmic structure make it appealing to both children and adults, while also conveying a universal truth about the importance of staying active and engaged.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| hump | bump | a raised part on an animal's back or a metaphorical burden | huhmp |
| frouzly | messy | untidy or disheveled | frouz-lee |
| snarly-yarly | grumpy | irritable or bad-tempered | snaar-lee yaar-lee |
| frowst | lounge | to sit lazily or idly | frowst |
| perspire | sweat | to sweat or exude moisture | per-spire |
| Djinn | spirit | a supernatural being or spirit | jin |
| Cameelious | camel-like | resembling a camel, used humorously | ka-mee-lee-us |
| scowl | frown | to make an angry or bad-tempered expression | skowl |
| grunt | complain | to make a low, rough noise or complain | gruhnt |
| growl | snarl | to make a low, threatening sound | growl |
| shiver | tremble | to shake slightly due to cold or fear | shiv-er |
| hoe | tool | a gardening tool used for digging | hoh |
| shovel | spade | a tool with a broad blade for digging | shuhv-ul |
| ugly | unattractive | not pleasing to look at | uhg-lee |
| lump | bump | a small mass or swelling | luhmp |
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English journalist, novelist, poet, and short-story writer, born in British India. He is best known for works like 'The Jungle Book' and 'If—'. Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907.
View on Wikipedia