German short stories – Learning German through English
Aesop’s Fables – Die Eiche und das Schilf
Once upon a time, there was a mighty Oak tree. The Oak tree was very proud of its great strength. Beside the tree grew some slender and week reeds. The reeds would bend and be pushed to the ground even if there was a slight wind.
TranslateEs war einmal eine mächtige Eiche. Die Eiche war sehr stolz auf ihre große Stärke. Neben dem Baum wuchsen einige schlanke und einwöchige Schilfrohre. Das Schilf würde sich biegen und zu Boden gedrückt werden, selbst wenn es leicht windete.
If the wind was strong, the Oak tree would laugh and stand strong with its hundred mighty arms without bending or bowing. The reeds would all bend and twist to the wind making a mournful sound.
TranslateWenn der Wind stark wäre, würde die Eiche lachen und mit ihren hundert mächtigen Armen stark stehen, ohne sich zu beugen oder zu verbeugen. Das Schilf würde sich alle biegen und im Wind drehen und ein trauriges Geräusch machen.
One day the Oak tree said to the Reeds, “Oh look at how weak you all are. You bend and bow to the slightest of winds. And look at me, so proud and strong. You must feel very bad, indeed.”
TranslateEines Tages sagte die Eiche zu den Schilfen: „Oh, seht euch an, wie schwach ihr alle seid. Ihr beugt euch und verneigt euch vor dem geringsten Wind. Und seht mich an, so stolz und stark. Ihr müsst euch in der Tat sehr schlecht fühlen. “
“Oh Great Oak tree. Don’t worry about us. The wind can never harm us. We only bend in front of the wind so that we do not break. You, with all your strength and pride have so far survived the wind. But one day a wind will come so strong it shall push you to the ground”
Translate„Oh große Eiche. Machen Sie Ihnen keine Sorgen um uns. Der Wind kann uns niemals schaden. Wir biegen uns nur vor dem Wind, damit wir nicht brechen. Sie haben mit all Ihrer Kraft und Ihrem Stolz den Wind bisher überlebt. Aber eines Tages wird ein Wind so stark kommen, dass er Sie zu Boden drückt. “
One day a hurricane came. It was ferocious and battered against the mighty Oak tree. The reeds lay flat in the ground, too weak to fight the wind.
TranslateEines Tages kam ein Hurrikan. Es war wild und schlug gegen die mächtige Eiche. Das Schilf lag flach im Boden, zu schwach, um den Wind zu bekämpfen.
The Oak tree stood strongly and proudly but the wind increased in fury. Soon, the Oak tree could hold no more, its roots tore and it crashed to the ground.
The reeds said, “If only you had listened and bent to the wind, you would not have crashed to the ground.”
TranslateDie Eiche stand stark und stolz, aber der Wind nahm vor Wut zu. Bald konnte die Eiche nicht mehr halten, ihre Wurzeln rissen und sie stürzte zu Boden.
Das Schilf sagte: „Wenn Sie nur zugehört und sich in den Wind gebeugt hätten, wären Sie nicht zu Boden gefallen.”
Moral: Better to yield when it is folly to resist, than to resist stubbornly and be destroyed.
Translate Moral: Besser nachgeben, wenn es Torheit ist, Widerstand zu leisten, als hartnäckig Widerstand zu leisten und zerstört zu werden. Hope you had fun learning German through short stories 🙂 If so leave a comment!!! For more languages: Learn German through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/German Learn Spanish through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/Spanish Learn Italian through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/Italian Learn Dutch through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/Dutch Learn French through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/French Learn Portuguese through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/Portuguese Learn Portuguese through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/English About: Studying through Dual Language immersion is among the best techniques for learning a new language. The objective of this website is to teach yourself how to read and speak German confidently using English as a base 🙂 These German short stories are super cool to read for beginners and also for entertaining children. Aesop’s Fables are among the best stories that can be studied on a daily basis. About the Editor He has conducted over 1000 plus hours of classes to over 300 students. In simple words (his words as well as his student’s words), he is AWESOME!!! He can be reached out to at deindeutschlehrer24@gmail.com He also provides German Language courses for A1, A2 and B1 levels. Below are the details for the same: Fees for A1, A2 and B1 levels are 120€,140€ and 160€ respectively.
The author of this German dual language short story is a C1 Goethe certified German language expert. He has over 5 years’ experience in teaching German and over 8 years learning.
