Aesop
|
Greece

The Eagle and The Kite

An Eagle and a Kite formed a partnership based on the Kite's false claim of being faster, but the Eagle discovered the truth and left.
Honesty
Wisdom
Pride
Aesop's Fables - The Eagle and The Kite
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in the blue vastness of the sky, there was an Eagle, strong and proud. Nearby, a Kite soared, always in awe of the Eagle's prowess and majesty.

One day, the Kite, eager to attract the Eagle, boasted, "I am the fastest flyer in the sky, even swifter than you." Intrigued and attracted by this bold claim, the Eagle agreed to be partners with the Kite.

After they had committed to one another, the Eagle, in a calm and collected voice, asked the Kite, "Now, will you prove your claim? Show me this unmatched speed you spoke of."

The Kite, realizing the lie was on the brink of exposure, nervously fluttered and attempted to show a burst of speed. But try as it might, it could not surpass, or even match, the effortless speed and grace of the Eagle.

Disappointed but wiser, the Eagle said, "You lied to win me over. That's not the foundation for a good partnership. Remember, truth always has a way of revealing itself."

And with that, the Eagle soared away, leaving the Kite to contemplate its actions.

Once upon a time, way up in the sky—think of the biggest movie screen ever but made of clouds—there was an Eagle, cooler than a superhero. Then, along comes a Kite, flapping around like it's the Eagle's biggest fan. Seriously, if the Kite had a scrapbook, it would be full of Eagle pictures.

The Kite wanted to be pals with the Eagle so much, it said, "Hey, Mr. Eagle! Bet you didn't know I'm the fastest bird ever, even faster than you. Zoom, zoom!"

The Eagle, who heard stuff like this all the time, winked and said, "Alright, Speedy, you got my ear. Let's be buddies!"

They high-fived with their wings because, you know, birds can't shake hands.

Then, the Eagle looked at the Kite and said, "Okay, buddy, let's see this super-duper fast flying you've been talking about. I wanna see something awesome!"

The Kite felt nervous. "Um, okay, get ready for the most amazing flying you've ever seen!" It flapped its wings as fast as it could, but it was like a toy car racing a rocket. The Eagle just glided super smoothly and made it look easy-peasy.

The Eagle chuckled, "Well, well, well, looks like someone's been telling tall tales. You know, lying's not how you make friends. Lies get found out, like finding a hidden toy in a cereal box."

The Kite looked down. "So, we're not going to be flying buddies?"

The Eagle sighed, "It's not you; it's the honesty. Remember, telling the truth is always the best way to go."

And just like that, the Eagle flew up, up, and away, looking cooler than ever. The Kite stayed behind, thinking hard about what just happened.

So the Kite flew in a little circle, feeling kinda silly but also learning something big. Maybe it was time to be honest, because being truthful is the coolest thing you can do. And who knows? Maybe one day, the Kite would be cool enough for the Eagle after all.

In a sky so wide and oh so high,
Lived an Eagle, winging near the clouds.
Close by, a Kite did also fly,
Looking at the Eagle, feeling proud.

"Hey, Eagle, listen," Kite called out,
"I fly faster than you, there's no doubt!"
Eagle smiled, intrigued, "Alright, let's be a team,
But can you prove you're as fast as you seem?"

So Kite and Eagle, they joined their flight,
Excited to see who'd win this sky-fight.
"Okay, Kite, show me now," said Eagle, calm and cool,
"Your speedy trick that makes you rule."

Kite flapped and fluttered, oh so fast,
But couldn't beat the Eagle, not even to the last.
Eagle sighed, "You told a fib, that's clear to see,
Honesty's the key to be a friend to me."

Eagle soared high, in the sky so grand,
Leaving Kite alone on the air and land.
Kite thought hard, "Next time, no lies,
For truth, like the sun, always will rise."

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Kite lied about being the fastest flyer in the sky?
  2. How do you think the Kite felt when the Eagle asked it to prove its claim?
  3. Can you remember a time when telling the truth would have been easier than making up a story?
  4. What lesson did the Eagle teach the Kite about honesty and relationships?
  5. How could the Kite have behaved differently to form a good partnership with the Eagle?

Fable Quotes

Honesty builds bridges; deceit only builds walls.
Wisdom sees beyond words, for actions reveal the truth.
Pride blinds the boastful, exposing their true weakness when faced with the light of truth.
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