Little My
Encyclopedia
Little My is a character in the Moomin
series of books by Tove Jansson
. She first appears in the fourth book, The Exploits of Moominpappa
(1950). She is a small, determined and fiercely independent Mymble. When she wants something done, she does it straight away. She is very aggressive, mischievous to a fault and totally disrespectful, but can be a good friend when she wants to. She has a brash personality. She is the Mymble's Daughter's younger sister. She is eventually adopted by the Moomin family.
The name Little My originated from the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet
: μ (Mu) - transliterated as my and pronounced my in Swedish. In the metric system, lowercase mu μ, meaning "one-millionth", represents the prefix "micro-", from the Greek
(), meaning "small".
The popularity of the character has led to the personal name My being borne by more than 3000 women and girls in Sweden.
She has four ways she mostly uses to win. She makes a personal attack on the person she is having the discussion with or about, she state her own nonducumented conclusions she exaggerate the argument of her opponents to ridicule them, and she uses nonverbal effects to show the inferiority of her opponent.
In addition, Little My plays major roles in the picture-books The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My
and An Unwanted Guest
, has a brief speaking role in The Dangerous Journey
, and makes a silent (and unmentioned by the narrative) cameo in one of the illustrations in Who Will Comfort Toffle?
. She's also mentioned a number of times in Moominvalley in November
, but since this book takes place roughly at the same time as the trip to the lighthouse island in Moominpappa at Sea, she doesn't actually appear in person.
She also shows up as a major character in most Moomin-related media, comics, movies and TV series.
(2006 - 2010) adopted its name from the Moomin character.
Moomin
The Moomins are the central characters in a series of books and a comic strip by Swedish-Finn illustrator and writer Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Schildts in Finland. They are a family of trolls who are white and roundish, with large snouts that make them resemble hippopotamuses...
series of books by Tove Jansson
Tove Jansson
Tove Marika Jansson was a Swedish-Finnish novelist, painter, illustrator and comic strip author. She is best known as the author of the Moomin books.- Biography :...
. She first appears in the fourth book, The Exploits of Moominpappa
The Exploits of Moominpappa
The Exploits of Moominpappa, first published in 1950 and then considerably revised in 1968 under the title Moominpappa's Memoirs, is the fourth book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. The story found in this book is mentioned in the previous Moomin books, as Moominpappa writes his memoirs in...
(1950). She is a small, determined and fiercely independent Mymble. When she wants something done, she does it straight away. She is very aggressive, mischievous to a fault and totally disrespectful, but can be a good friend when she wants to. She has a brash personality. She is the Mymble's Daughter's younger sister. She is eventually adopted by the Moomin family.
The name Little My originated from the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet
Greek alphabet
The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega...
: μ (Mu) - transliterated as my and pronounced my in Swedish. In the metric system, lowercase mu μ, meaning "one-millionth", represents the prefix "micro-", from the Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
(), meaning "small".
The popularity of the character has led to the personal name My being borne by more than 3000 women and girls in Sweden.
Personality
Little My is a very abrasive person, and she almost always succeeds in persuading her listener or discussion partner. She's a nonconventional debater, as she does not put much emphasis on logic and reason, instead she uses the emotions of herself and others to convince them of her argument.She has four ways she mostly uses to win. She makes a personal attack on the person she is having the discussion with or about, she state her own nonducumented conclusions she exaggerate the argument of her opponents to ridicule them, and she uses nonverbal effects to show the inferiority of her opponent.
Appearances
Little My appears in the following books:- 4 The Exploits of MoominpappaThe Exploits of MoominpappaThe Exploits of Moominpappa, first published in 1950 and then considerably revised in 1968 under the title Moominpappa's Memoirs, is the fourth book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. The story found in this book is mentioned in the previous Moomin books, as Moominpappa writes his memoirs in...
- Little My is born on a Midsummer's DayMidsummerMidsummer may simply refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place on a day between June 21 and June 24, and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between different...
during MoominpappaMoominpappaMoominpappa - is a character in the Moomin series of books by Finnish author Tove Jansson.Orphaned in his youth, Moominpappa is a somewhat restless soul who left the orphanage to venture out into the world but has now settled down, determined to be a responsible father to his family: his wife...
's youth, and is referred to as the smallest and youngest of all the Mymble's children; so small, in fact that you can hardly even see her. She doesn't play a very large part in the book, but does on occasion display her fondness for mischief and cheerfully morbid fascination for disaster and destruction. - 5 Moominsummer MadnessMoominsummer MadnessMoominsummer Madness is the fourth in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomins books, published in 1954.The novel forms the basis of episodes 28-30 in the 1990 TV series.-Plot summary:...
- In this book, Little My has grown enough that she can take a more active part in the plot, though she is still small enough that SnufkinSnufkinSnufkin is a character in the Moomin series of books authored by Swedish-speaking Finn Tove Jansson, appearing in six of the nine books...
can carry her in his pocket. She is now in the care of her older sister, The Mymble's daughter, who unsuccessfully tries to teach her good behavior, but is separated from the others during the course of the plot and ends up being rescued by Snufkin, whom she accompanies for most of the rest of the book as he battles a rule-obsessed Park Keeper and ends up unwittingly "rescuing" a group of other children as well. - 6 Moominland MidwinterMoominland MidwinterMoominland Midwinter is the fifth in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomins books, published in 1957.This book sees Jansson adopt a darker, more introspective tone compared to the earlier books that is continued in the remainder of the series.Often in the book Moomintroll is either lonely,...
- Little My is the only character, apart from Moomintroll, who wakes from hibernationHibernationHibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
and gets to experience winter for the first time. Unlike him, she immediately finds this "new, ice-cold world" to be great fun, especially after she discovers winter sports. - 7 Tales from MoominvalleyTales from MoominvalleyTales from Moominvalley is the sixth book in the Moomin series by Finnish author, Tove Jansson. Unlike all the other books, which were novels, it is a book of short stories, and is the longest book in the series...
- This book consists of several short stories, three of which feature Little My: A Tale of Horror, where she tells tall tales of terror and doom to the -Next-to-youngest-Whomper, The Last Dragon on Earth, in which she basically plays the nosy, sarcastic and insensitive younger sibling to Moomintroll(though actually being older than him), and The Invisible Child, where she demonstrates her own ideas about how to help the invisible Ninny become visible again. - 8 Moominpappa at SeaMoominpappa at SeaMoominpappa at Sea is the seventh book in the Moomin books by Finnish author Tove Jansson. It is based primarily around the character of Moominpappa. It was first published in 1965...
- Little My accompanies the Moomin family to the lighthouse island and is a constant presence in the book. Again, she is the only character who instantly takes to the new life and remains cheerful throughout.
In addition, Little My plays major roles in the picture-books The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My
The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My
The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My was the first Moomin picture book by Finnish author Tove Jansson. It was first published in 1952 in Swedish language.-Plot:...
and An Unwanted Guest
An Unwanted Guest
Skurken i muminhuset is a children's picture book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. It was published in 1980....
, has a brief speaking role in The Dangerous Journey
The Dangerous Journey
The Dangerous Journey is a children's picture book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. It was published in 1977...
, and makes a silent (and unmentioned by the narrative) cameo in one of the illustrations in Who Will Comfort Toffle?
Who Will Comfort Toffle?
Who Will Comfort Toffle? is the second picture book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. It was first published in 1960. It was first translated into English by Kingsley Hart....
. She's also mentioned a number of times in Moominvalley in November
Moominvalley in November
Moominvalley in November is the ninth and final book in the Moomin series by Finnish author Tove Jansson, and was first published in both her native Swedish and English in 1971...
, but since this book takes place roughly at the same time as the trip to the lighthouse island in Moominpappa at Sea, she doesn't actually appear in person.
She also shows up as a major character in most Moomin-related media, comics, movies and TV series.
Other Little Mys
The Cardiff band Little MyLittle My (band)
Little My were a twee pop band from Cardiff, Wales that performed live from 10 March 2006 - 10 March 2010. They were well known for the animal ears costumes worn on stage and their chaotic and sometimes shambolic live performances.-History:...
(2006 - 2010) adopted its name from the Moomin character.