ABSTRACT
The children’s conception of the reality-status of characters did not seem to affect their identification with them, although it is notable that, out of the multifarious Moomintroll characters, the two most lasting role assimilations were the almost-human Little My (Figures 4.2 and 5.9) and Snufkin. A discussion on the reality status of characters, with reference specifically to Tove Jansson’s Moomintroll stories, will be followed by a discussion of the theory of identification with book characters, then a study of the seven types of identification that Rebecca and Ralph demonstrated.
