Aesop
|
Greece

The North Wind and The Sun

A North Wind and a Sun compete to remove a traveler’s cloak, but the Sun wins with warmth.
Kindness
Strength
Adaptability
The North Wind and the Sun
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, the North Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger when they saw a traveler coming down the road. They agreed that the one who could first strip the traveler of his cloak would be considered the stronger of the two.

The North Wind began the contest, blowing with all his might upon the traveler, trying to wrench the cloak from his grasp. But the harder the North Wind blew, the tighter the traveler wrapped his cloak around himself, determined to keep it in place.

Frustrated, the North Wind eventually gave up and allowed the Sun to take his turn. The Sun shone warmly upon the traveler, gently warming him with his rays. As the traveler felt the pleasant warmth, he soon unwrapped his cloak, and finally, removed it altogether to enjoy the comforting heat.

The North Wind admitted defeat, and the Sun was declared the stronger of the two.

Once upon a time, the North Wind and the Sun were having an argument.

"I'm the strongest," said the North Wind, puffing out his chest.

"Oh, really?" said the Sun with a warm smile. "I think I might be stronger than you."

Just then, they saw a traveler walking along the road. He was wearing a thick cloak, pulling it tightly around himself.

The North Wind had an idea. "Let's have a contest! Whoever can make that traveler take off his cloak will be the strongest."

The Sun agreed, and the challenge began.

The North Wind went first. He took a deep breath and blew as hard as he could. The wind roared and howled, rushing around the traveler, trying to tear the cloak away. But the stronger the North Wind blew, the tighter the traveler held onto his cloak. He wrapped it around himself to keep warm.

The North Wind huffed and puffed, but no matter how hard he tried, the traveler refused to let go. At last, the North Wind gave up, out of breath and frustrated.

"Now it's my turn," said the Sun.

The Sun smiled and began to shine. His golden rays touched the traveler, warming his face and shoulders. The traveler loosened his hold on the cloak. As the Sun shone brighter, the traveler wiped his forehead, feeling hot. Finally, he took off the cloak and carried it over his arm.

The North Wind sighed. “You win,” he admitted.

The Sun smiled. “Sometimes, kindness and warmth are stronger than force."

The North Wind and the Sun have a game. They see a man walking on the road. The man is wearing a coat. The North Wind says, "I am strong. I can make him take off his coat."

The North Wind blows hard. The wind is very cold. The man holds his coat tight. He does not take off his coat. The North Wind cannot win.

Then, the Sun says, "Now, it is my turn." The Sun shines bright. The Sun is warm. The man feels hot. He takes off his coat. The Sun wins.

Once upon a time, the North Wind and the Sun were having an argument.

"I'm the strongest," said the North Wind, puffing out his chest.

"Oh, really?" said the Sun with a warm smile. "I think I might be stronger than you."

Just then, they saw a traveler walking along the road. He was wearing a thick cloak, pulling it tightly around himself.

The North Wind had an idea. "Let's have a contest! Whoever can make that traveler take off his cloak will be the strongest."

The Sun agreed, and the challenge began.

The North Wind went first. He took a deep breath and blew as hard as he could. The wind roared and howled, rushing around the traveler, trying to tear the cloak away. But the stronger the North Wind blew, the tighter the traveler held onto his cloak. He wrapped it around himself to keep warm.

The North Wind huffed and puffed, but no matter how hard he tried, the traveler refused to let go. At last, the North Wind gave up, out of breath and frustrated.

"Now it's my turn," said the Sun.

The Sun smiled and began to shine. His golden rays touched the traveler, warming his face and shoulders. The traveler loosened his hold on the cloak. As the Sun shone brighter, the traveler wiped his forehead, feeling hot. Finally, he took off the cloak and carried it over his arm.

The North Wind sighed. “You win,” he admitted.

The Sun smiled. “Sometimes, kindness and warmth are stronger than force."

Once upon a groovy time, in the vast blue sky, the North Wind, who fancied himself as the ultimate superhero of gustiness, and the Sun, known locally as the “Bright Dude,” were bickering over who rocked harder. Just then, they spotted a traveler strolling down the road, his cloak fluttering like the grandest cape in a superhero movie.

North Wind, flipping his invisible hair, said, “Hey Sun, let’s settle this once and for all! First one to get that dude's cloak off wins the title of 'The Ultimate Powerhouse'!”

Sun, ever the cool cat, just winked and said, “You're on, Windy-boy!”

So, the North Wind, with all the gusto of a toddler on a sugar high, blew with all his might upon the traveler, thinking he’d whip the cloak off in one epic gust. “C’mon! Off you go, cloak!” But alas, the more he blew, the more the traveler hugged his cloak, almost like he was hugging a gigantic teddy bear. "Oh, come on!" grumbled the North Wind. "Why's he hugging it like it's his favorite pudding?!"

Seeing North Wind all huffed out, the Sun smirked, “Step aside, Windy. Let the master show you how it’s done.” And with the gentle charm of a thousand kittens, he beamed down, warming the traveler bit by bit.

Feeling the comfy warmth, the traveler sighed, “Ah, that's the good stuff!” and gradually loosened his cloak. Eventually, he flung it over his arm, twirling around like he was on a summer vacation.

North Wind, pouting, said, “Alright, alright, you win! But let’s be honest, who can resist your warm cuddles?”

The Sun, with a cheeky grin, replied, “Precisely, my windy friend. Sometimes, a warm hug does more than a gusty push!”

And so, in the grand game of "Whose Power Rocks the Most?" the Bright Dude aka the Sun was the undisputed champ! Everyone danced, laughed, and played on under the ever-smiling sun.

North Wind and Sun, in skies so blue,
Argued who’s strong—each thought they knew.
A traveler walked, his cloak pulled tight,
They made a plan to prove who's right.

"Who takes his cloak with skill or might,"
They said, "will win this friendly fight."
North Wind puffed up, "I’ll make him freeze,"
He blew a gust through leafless trees.

Yet tighter still, the man did cling,
His cloak as if attached by string.
"I've tried my best," North Wind confessed,
"Sun, take your turn, put him to test."

Sun beamed a smile, warmed up the land,
The man felt heat, as if by hand.
He loosened up his cloak with glee,
To feel the sun, as one feels free.

"Sun, you are stronger," Wind decreed,
"With warmth, not force, you've done the deed."
Sun simply smiled, spoke words so true,
"It’s often love that sees us through."

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Word Finder

  1. Argument

    Talking angrily because of different opinions.

  2. Strongest

    Having the most power or energy.

  3. Traveler

    A person going from one place to another.

  4. Cloak

    A long, loose coat without sleeves.

  5. Contest

    A game or challenge to see who wins.

  6. Roared

    Made a loud, deep noise.

  7. Howled

    Made a long, loud crying sound.

  8. Frustrated

    Feeling upset because something is too hard.

  9. Admitted

    Said the truth about something, usually after losing.

  10. Force

    Using strength or power to make something happen.

Understanding Questions

  1. What were the North Wind and the Sun arguing about at the beginning of the story?
  2. What did the traveler do when the North Wind blew strongly?
  3. How did the Sun make the traveler take off his cloak?
  4. Why did the North Wind give up in the contest?
  5. What happened to the traveler’s cloak at the end of the story?
Word Finder
  1. Game

    Activity to see who wins.

  2. Road

    Place where cars and people go.

  3. Wearing

    Putting clothes on the body.

  4. Strong

    Having a lot of power.

  5. Blows

    Pushes air with force.

  6. Cold

    Low temperature, not warm.

  7. Holds

    Keeps something in hands.

  8. Tight

    Held very close together.

  9. Shines

    Gives off light and warmth.

  10. Warm

    A little hot, not cold.

  1. Argument

    Talking angrily because of different opinions.

  2. Strongest

    Having the most power or energy.

  3. Traveler

    A person going from one place to another.

  4. Cloak

    A long, loose coat without sleeves.

  5. Contest

    A game or challenge to see who wins.

  6. Roared

    Made a loud, deep noise.

  7. Howled

    Made a long, loud crying sound.

  8. Frustrated

    Feeling upset because something is too hard.

  9. Admitted

    Said the truth about something, usually after losing.

  10. Force

    Using strength or power to make something happen.

Understanding Questions
  1. Who has a game?

    1. The man and the coat
    2. The North Wind and the Sun
    3. The Sun and the coat
    4. The man and the North Wind
  2. What does the man wear?

    1. A hat
    2. A coat
    3. Shoes
    4. Gloves
  3. What does the North Wind say?

    1. "I am cold."
    2. "I am warm."
    3. "I am strong."
    4. "I am weak."
  4. What happens when the North Wind blows?

    1. The man takes off his coat.
    2. The man holds his coat tight.
    3. The man feels hot.
    4. The man runs away.
  5. Who wins the game?

    1. The North Wind
    2. The man
    3. The coat
    4. The Sun
  1. What were the North Wind and the Sun arguing about at the beginning of the story?
  2. What did the traveler do when the North Wind blew strongly?
  3. How did the Sun make the traveler take off his cloak?
  4. Why did the North Wind give up in the contest?
  5. What happened to the traveler’s cloak at the end of the story?
  1. What was the main reason the North Wind and the Sun decided to have a contest?
  2. How did the traveler react to the North Wind's efforts to make him take off his cloak?
  3. Describe the Sun's approach in making the traveler remove his cloak.
  4. What can be inferred about the North Wind's method compared to the Sun's method?
  5. How did the North Wind respond after realizing the Sun was more powerful?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why were the North Wind and the Sun having an argument?
  2. How did the North Wind and the Sun try to make the traveler take off his cloak?
  3. Can you think of a time when you or someone was kind and gentle, and it worked better than being forceful?
  4. What does this story teach us about how to convince or persuade others?
  5. How can we use gentleness and kindness in our relationships with family or friends?
Fable Quotes
A gentle touch has more power than a forceful push.
The mightiest power is not measured by force, but by the ability to influence.
Adaptability triumphs as gentle warmth persuades where forceful winds fail.
Just One More Fable
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