Sniff
Encyclopedia
Sniff is a character in the Moomin
series of books by Finnish author Tove Jansson
. Moomintroll
's immature friend and later adopted brother. He is the son of the Muddler and the Fuzzy. He is one of the few characters in the Moomin series who is sincerely interested in money, and is always on the lookout for another way to get rich quick. This trait in him is often played as a contrast to Snufkin
, who doesn't care much about worldly belongings, and their two different philosophies sometimes clash—although Snufkin is generally portrayed as the wiser of the two.
Particularly in the earlier books, Sniff seems to be younger than the other major characters, and many of his negative qualities can be said to be those of a thoughtless child; he is selfish, greedy and quick to push all responsibility over on other people, but he is not malicious or mean-spirited. He's also easily frightened or upset, and not very fond of taking risks, although he will often overcome his fears if there's a chance of treasure or wealth.
Sniff is one of the first characters introduced in the series; in fact, he is the first person Moomintroll and Moominmamma
encounter on their journey in The Moomins and the Great Flood
, although he has not yet been given an actual name and is referred throughout the story simply as "the small creature."
In the following book, Comet in Moominland
, he gets his proper name, and goes on to play a major role in both that book and in Finn Family Moomintroll
, and he also plays a more minor role in The Exploits of Moominpappa
wherein he together with Snufkin and Moomintroll listen to Moominpappa
read from his memoirs, and at the end of the book finally meets his own parents for the first time in the series.
After this, possibly due to the lack of potential for character development, Sniff fades into the background and becomes a very minor character. His last appearance in the regular books is in Tales from Moominvalley
, although he gets a fairly large role in the picture-book The Dangerous Journey
, and has a minor speaking role in An Unwanted Guest
.
Sniff also appears in other Moomin-related media, usually as a semi-major 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 Finnish author 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 :...
. Moomintroll
Moomintroll
Moomintroll is the main character in the Moomin books by Tove Jansson. He lives in the Moominhouse together with his father Moominpappa and his mother Moominmamma and has a keen spirit of adventure. Moomintroll is a 'moomin' - a little white troll with a hippopotamus-like big round nose.His best...
's immature friend and later adopted brother. He is the son of the Muddler and the Fuzzy. He is one of the few characters in the Moomin series who is sincerely interested in money, and is always on the lookout for another way to get rich quick. This trait in him is often played as a contrast to Snufkin
Snufkin
Snufkin is a character in the Moomin series of books authored by Swedish-speaking Finn Tove Jansson, appearing in six of the nine books...
, who doesn't care much about worldly belongings, and their two different philosophies sometimes clash—although Snufkin is generally portrayed as the wiser of the two.
Particularly in the earlier books, Sniff seems to be younger than the other major characters, and many of his negative qualities can be said to be those of a thoughtless child; he is selfish, greedy and quick to push all responsibility over on other people, but he is not malicious or mean-spirited. He's also easily frightened or upset, and not very fond of taking risks, although he will often overcome his fears if there's a chance of treasure or wealth.
Sniff is one of the first characters introduced in the series; in fact, he is the first person Moomintroll and Moominmamma
Moominmamma
Moominmamma is a character in the Moomin series of books by Finnish author Tove Jansson.Moominmamma is married to Moominpappa and is the mother of Moomintroll. She very rarely gets cross and takes even the most distressing circumstances in her stride...
encounter on their journey in The Moomins and the Great Flood
The Moomins and the Great Flood
The Moomins and the Great Flood is a book written by Finnish author Tove Jansson in 1945...
, although he has not yet been given an actual name and is referred throughout the story simply as "the small creature."
In the following book, Comet in Moominland
Comet in Moominland
Comet In Moominland is the second in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomin books, published in 1946....
, he gets his proper name, and goes on to play a major role in both that book and in Finn Family Moomintroll
Finn Family Moomintroll
Finn Family Moomintroll is the third in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomins books, published in 1948...
, and he also plays a more minor role in 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...
wherein he together with Snufkin and Moomintroll listen to Moominpappa
Moominpappa
Moominpappa - 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...
read from his memoirs, and at the end of the book finally meets his own parents for the first time in the series.
After this, possibly due to the lack of potential for character development, Sniff fades into the background and becomes a very minor character. His last appearance in the regular books is in Tales from Moominvalley
Tales from Moominvalley
Tales 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...
, although he gets a fairly large role in the picture-book 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 has a minor speaking role in 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....
.
Sniff also appears in other Moomin-related media, usually as a semi-major character.