Aesop
|
Greece

The Bundle of Sticks

A farmer teaches his quarreling sons the strength of unity using a bundle of sticks.
Unity
Teamwork
Strength
The Bundle of Sticks
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a small village, there was a farmer who had a big farm and lots of crops. People said he must be the happiest person because he had three good-looking sons. But, in truth, the farmer was always worried because his sons liked to argue with each other all the time.

One sunny day, the farmer had an idea. He took a bunch of sticks and tied them together. Then, he asked each of his sons to try and break the bundle. They pulled and pushed, but the bundle didn't break.

After they got tired and gave up, the farmer opened the bundle and gave each son a single stick. "Now, try to break these," he said. And, snap! They easily broke the single sticks.

The oldest son, scratching his head, asked, "Father, why did we do that?"

The farmer, with a kind smile, said, "My sons, you are like these sticks. Together, you are strong. But if you stay mad at each other, you're like the single sticks – easy to break. Stick together, and you'll be strong."

The sons thought about it and realized what their dad was trying to teach them. They promised to stay together and support each other from that day.

Once upon a time, in a quiet little village, there was a hardworking farmer who owned a farm. His fields stretched far with golden crops. The villagers often said, “That farmer must be the happiest man in town! With three strong, handsome sons, what more could he ask for?” But the farmer was not as happy as people thought. His sons were always arguing. No matter how much he told them to get along, they kept fighting over small things.

One afternoon, while resting under the shade of a large tree, the farmer had an idea. He walked to the woodpile. He gathered some sticks and tied them into a tight bundle. Then, he called his sons and placed the bundle in front of them.

"Try to break this," he said.

The eldest son stepped forward first. He gripped the bundle and pressed with all his strength, but it wouldn’t break. The second son tried next. Then the youngest gave it a go. But no matter how hard they pushed or twisted, the sticks wouldn't budge.

After watching them struggle, the farmer took the bundle and untied the rope. He handed each son a single stick. "Now, try again," he said.

One by one, the sons snapped their sticks easily.

The eldest son frowned. "Father, what does this mean? Why did we do that?"

The farmer smiled. "My sons, you are like these sticks. When the sticks are bound together, they are strong. But alone, they break without effort. The same is true for you. If you keep fighting and standing apart, you will be weak. But if you stand together, no one will be able to break you."

The sons looked at each other, their father's words sinking in. They remembered all the times they had fought over little things. They realized how silly it was.

From that day on, they worked together. They supported one another and became a happy family. Their bond was strong, like a bundle of sticks.

The farmer smiled. He knew his lesson had strengthened their bond and their hearts.

There is a farmer. He has a big farm. He grows many crops. He has three sons. People think he is happy, but he is worried. His sons fight all the time.

One day, the farmer has an idea. He takes some sticks. He ties the sticks together. He asks his sons to break the bundle. They try hard, but they cannot break it.

Then, the farmer gives each son one stick. "Now, break the stick," he says. They break the sticks easily.

The oldest son asks, "Why do we do this, Father?"

The farmer says, "You are like these sticks. Together, you are strong. Alone, you are weak. If you stay together, you will be strong."

The sons understand. They promise to stay together and help each other. They do not fight anymore.

Once upon a time, in a quiet little village, there was a hardworking farmer who owned a farm. His fields stretched far with golden crops. The villagers often said, “That farmer must be the happiest man in town! With three strong, handsome sons, what more could he ask for?” But the farmer was not as happy as people thought. His sons were always arguing. No matter how much he told them to get along, they kept fighting over small things.

One afternoon, while resting under the shade of a large tree, the farmer had an idea. He walked to the woodpile. He gathered some sticks and tied them into a tight bundle. Then, he called his sons and placed the bundle in front of them.

"Try to break this," he said.

The eldest son stepped forward first. He gripped the bundle and pressed with all his strength, but it wouldn’t break. The second son tried next. Then the youngest gave it a go. But no matter how hard they pushed or twisted, the sticks wouldn't budge.

After watching them struggle, the farmer took the bundle and untied the rope. He handed each son a single stick. "Now, try again," he said.

One by one, the sons snapped their sticks easily.

The eldest son frowned. "Father, what does this mean? Why did we do that?"

The farmer smiled. "My sons, you are like these sticks. When the sticks are bound together, they are strong. But alone, they break without effort. The same is true for you. If you keep fighting and standing apart, you will be weak. But if you stand together, no one will be able to break you."

The sons looked at each other, their father's words sinking in. They remembered all the times they had fought over little things. They realized how silly it was.

From that day on, they worked together. They supported one another and became a happy family. Their bond was strong, like a bundle of sticks.

The farmer smiled. He knew his lesson had strengthened their bond and their hearts.

Once upon a time, in a teeny-weeny village, there lived a farmer. Now, this wasn't just any farmer. Oh no, he had a farm so big, if you tried to see it all in one go, you’d need a pair of binoculars, a map, and a snack for the journey. And on this farm, he grew everything from ticklish tomatoes to dancing potatoes. Everyone thought he must be doing a victory dance every morning because, besides his vast farm, he had three sons. They were as handsome as princes from fairy tales.

But, here's the twist: the farmer wasn’t dancing. He was more worried than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Why? His sons were experts in the ancient art of arguing. Morning, noon, and night, they’d argue about anything. "The sky is blue!" "No, it's more of a periwinkle!"

On a particularly sunny day, so sunny the sun itself was wearing sunglasses, the farmer had a lightbulb moment. He gathered a bunch of sticks and tied them into a bundle tougher than a math problem on a Monday morning.

He called his sons over. "Boys," he said, "I have a challenge for you." He presented the bundle of sticks with a flourish as if he was revealing the secret to unlimited candy.

The sons, taking turns like knights facing a dragon, pulled and tugged at the bundle. They huffed and they puffed, but the bundle was more stubborn than a donkey on a lazy day. It didn't break.

Panting and with egos bruised, they gave up. "Dad, this is harder than trying to put socks on a chicken," complained the youngest.

With a twinkle in his eye, the farmer untied the bundle and handed each son a single stick. "Try now," he suggested, as if revealing the next act in a magic show.

Snap! The sticks broke easier than a promise to wake up early on a weekend.

The oldest, scratching his head so much you’d think he was trying to wind up his brain, finally asked, "Dad, what's all this about? Were we auditioning for the 'World's Weakest Stick Breakers'?"

The farmer, smiling like he had just won the lottery of teaching moments, shared his wisdom. "My sons, when you're together, you're like this bundle of sticks – unbreakable, stronger than a superhero team. But if you keep bickering and standing alone, you’re as easy to defeat as these single sticks. Imagine, together, you could be the ultimate team, like knights, wizards, and, yes, even dragons, all rolled into one!"

The sons, now with light bulbs popping above their heads too, realized what their clever dad was getting at. They looked at each other, not as rivals in a never-ending debate, but as teammates in the world's coolest adventure.

From that day, they decided to stick together, thicker than peanut butter on toast, supporting each other through thick and thin, turning their trio into an unbeatable squad.

Once there lived a farmer wise and grand,
With a big farm and crops across the land.
He had three sons, quite handsome to the eye,
Yet, their constant quarrels made him sigh.

One sunny day, an idea did bloom,
He gathered some sticks, a plan in the room.
He tied them in a bundle, firm and tight,
Asked his sons to break it with all their might.

They pulled and they pushed, but none could succeed,
The bundle of sticks wouldn't break indeed.
The farmer then, with a clever mind's trick,
Gave each a single stick, thin and quick.

“Now, try again,” he said with a smile,
And snap! They broke easily, stick by pile.
Confused, the oldest son had to inquire,
“Father, what lesson do you desire?”

The farmer, wise, spoke of strength and might,
“Together, you’re strong, enduring the fight.
But divided, like sticks, you’ll easily break.
Stay united, for your own sake.”

The sons understood, their eyes wide and bright,
Promised to support, never to fight.
From that day on, their bond was unshaken,
Together as one, they could not be taken.

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Word Finder

  1. Hardworking

    Someone who works very hard every day.

  2. Villagers

    People who live in a small village together.

  3. Arguing

    Talking loudly because of a strong disagreement.

  4. Woodpile

    A big stack of wood for burning or using.

  5. Gathered

    Collected things together in one place.

  6. Pressed

    Pushed something down with great force.

  7. Struggle

    Try very hard to do something difficult.

  8. Snapped

    Broke something quickly into two pieces.

  9. Bundle

    A collection of items tied or grouped together tightly.

  10. Strengthened

    Made something or someone stronger than before.

Understanding Questions

  1. What was the farmer's main concern about his sons?
  2. What did the farmer use to demonstrate his lesson to his sons?
  3. How did the sons react when they tried to break the bundle of sticks?
  4. What happened when the farmer gave each son a single stick?
  5. What lesson did the farmer want his sons to learn from the sticks?
Word Finder
  1. Farmer

    A person who works on a farm.

  2. Crops

    Plants grown for food or use.

  3. Worried

    Feeling scared or nervous about something.

  4. Fight

    When people hurt or argue with each other.

  5. Idea

    A new thought or plan.

  6. Sticks

    Thin, long pieces of wood.

  7. Bundle

    A group of things tied together.

  8. Break

    Make something into smaller pieces.

  9. Together

    Being with other people or things.

  10. Promise

    Saying you will do something for sure.

  1. Hardworking

    Someone who works very hard every day.

  2. Villagers

    People who live in a small village together.

  3. Arguing

    Talking loudly because of a strong disagreement.

  4. Woodpile

    A big stack of wood for burning or using.

  5. Gathered

    Collected things together in one place.

  6. Pressed

    Pushed something down with great force.

  7. Struggle

    Try very hard to do something difficult.

  8. Snapped

    Broke something quickly into two pieces.

  9. Bundle

    A collection of items tied or grouped together tightly.

  10. Strengthened

    Made something or someone stronger than before.

Understanding Questions
  1. What does the farmer grow on his farm?

    1. Animals
    2. Crops
    3. Flowers
    4. Trees
  2. How many sons does the farmer have?

    1. One
    2. Two
    3. Three
    4. Four
  3. What do the farmer's sons do all the time?

    1. Work
    2. Fight
    3. Sleep
    4. Play
  4. What does the farmer ask his sons to break first?

    1. A stick
    2. A bundle of sticks
    3. A rope
    4. A stone
  5. What lesson does the farmer teach his sons?

    1. Work hard
    2. Be humble
    3. Stay together to be strong
    4. Grow crops
  1. What was the farmer's main concern about his sons?
  2. What did the farmer use to demonstrate his lesson to his sons?
  3. How did the sons react when they tried to break the bundle of sticks?
  4. What happened when the farmer gave each son a single stick?
  5. What lesson did the farmer want his sons to learn from the sticks?
  1. Why did the farmer decide to gather his sons and give them a bundle of sticks to break?
  2. What was the reaction of the sons when they failed to break the bundle of sticks?
  3. How did the farmer illustrate the difference between unity and division to his sons?
  4. What lesson did the farmer hope to impart to his sons through the demonstration with the sticks?
  5. How did the sons' behavior change after understanding the lesson from their father?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why was the farmer worried about his sons?
  2. What did the farmer do to teach his sons a lesson about staying united?
  3. Can you think of a situation where working together made a task easier for you?
  4. What do you think the story teaches about the importance of teamwork or family unity?
  5. How can you apply the lesson of "sticking together" in your friendships or family relationships?
Fable Quotes
Unity is strength, division is weakness.
Alone we struggle; together, we conquer.
True strength is in bonds, not in solitude.
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