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| “ | There was Tuffnut Junior. A pleasure to meet - if you happen to like meeting pimply young pug-uglies who pick their noses and sleep with an axe under their pillows | ” |
| — How to Twist a Dragon's Tale |
Tuffnut Junior is a character from the How to Train Your Dragon book series.
Official Description
| “ | Hot-headed and thoughtless, Tuffnut Junior is a fierce young plug-ugly who is excellent at fighting with swords, axes or fists. His nose is a bit wonky due to an unfortunate confrontation with a Gronckle who he attacked when he was a baby. DO NOT MENTION HIS NOSE. Tuffnut is a little touchy about his nose, and he is, as his name suggests, very tough. Although Tuffnut is quick-tempered, he is not mean like Snotlout. Tuffnut’s Riding Dragon is a very cool Rocket Ripper with go faster stripes along the sides. His hunting dragon is an Eaglefly. | ” |
| — Official How to Train Your Dragon Book Website |
Biography
Dragon Initiation Program
Tuffnut Junior is one of the Hairy Hooligan Novice Vikings. Though his experiences were not discussed in Book 1, Tuffnut evidently grabbed an Eaglefly from the Dragon Nursery, to train as a Hunting dragon.
Dealing with the Green Death
Tuffnut Junior, along with all the other initiates of the Hairy Hooligan Tribe and Meathead Tribe were exiled for failing the Final Initiation Test on Thor'sday Thursday. A violent storm washes several Seadragonus Giganticus Maximus ashore on the Isle of Berk. Tuffnut and the other initiates carry out a plan Hiccup concocted to pit the Green Death against the Purple Death by dropping feather bombs on the dragons and hurling insults at them. Ultimately, the two dragons kill each other, but not before the Green Death seeks revenge on Hiccup.
Pirate Training Program
Tuffnut Junior is listed as a student in the Pirate Training Program in How to Be a Pirate, meaning he participates in lessons such as 'Swordfighting at Sea (Beginners Only)'.
When a 'Swordfighting at Sea' lesson is interrupted by a mysterious coffin running into the ship, the ship sinks and all the novices must swim to shore. They wash up on the Long Beach, along with the coffin. Gobber orders Wartihog, Bearhug, Sharpknife, and Clueless to carry the coffin back to Hooligan village.
During 'Advanced Rudery' lessons, Tuffnut Junior is pitted against Snotlout. He is not very good at Rudery and Snotlout beats him thoroughly, moving to the top of the class.
Board-an-Enemy-Ship Lesson
As a Pirate Training Program student, Tuffnut Junior built a small ship named The Raven in 'Shipbuilding' lessons, along with his partner Sharpknife. They then participate in 'Board-an-Enemy-Ship' lesson on the Sea-Known-As-Woden's-Bathtub, along with the other novices. They are to board a Peaceable fishing boat, menace them, and take a helmet as a trophy. Sharpknife and Tuffnut Junior are one of the first pairs to spot the fishing ships amongst the fog on the sea.
Later, while waiting for Gobber to appear in the Great Hall for a 'Frightening Foreigners' lesson, Tuffnut Junior and Sharpknife "were having a swordfight in one corner."
Winter Activities
Tuffnut Junior participates with the other Viking Novices in 'Hunting-With-Bows-and-Arrows-on-Skis' expedition as well as Smashsticks-on-Ice during Freya'sday Fete.
Summer Activities
As part of the young Vikings' education, Tuffnut Junior and the other Hooligan boys gathered on Huge Hill for a 'Herding-Reindeer-on-Horseback' lesson on an extremely hot day. During this lesson, the boys ride their pre-selected Riding Dragons for the first time. Tuffnut's is a "Rocket Ripper with go-faster stripes along the sides." The lessons turn deadly when the Reindeer and students are surrounded by flames caused by deadly Exterminator dragons. Most of the young Riding Dragons flee, leaving the boys in the fire. Gobber's Riding Dragon Goliath slowly evacuates the students, two-by-two, to safety.
Physical Description
Though athletic, Tuffnut Junior is portrayed as a lean boy with a long face. His nose is crooked from an accident in his younger years. He wears an earring in his left ear.
Personality
Tuffnut Jr. is "naturally a good-natured boy, and insults were not his strong point", making him a poor student in 'Advance Rudery', as seen in How to Be a Pirate. He is also described as being quick-tempered and fierce, but not necessarily mean.
Appearances
| Main Series | ||||||||||||
| "How to Train Your Dragon": | Appears | "How to Ride a Dragon's Storm": | Absent | |||||||||
| "How to Be a Pirate": | Appears | "How to Break a Dragon's Heart": | Absent | |||||||||
| "How to Speak Dragonese": | Appears | "How to Steal a Dragon's Sword": | Absent | |||||||||
| "How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse": | Background | "How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel": | Absent | |||||||||
| "How to Twist a Dragon's Tale": | Background | "How to Betray a Dragon's Hero": | Absent | |||||||||
| "A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons": | Absent | "How to Fight a Dragon's Fury": | Absent | |||||||||
Trivia
- A character named Terrible Tuffnut is also mentioned in Book 1. This is an adult male and Elder of a tribe - but which is not clear. It is possible this is Tuffnut Junior's father due to the same name, however, it is not explicitly mentioned.
Gallery
References
- Tuffnut Junior in the Hiccup and Friends Guide on the Official How to Train Your Dragon Books Website. NB: http://www.hiccuptheviking.com is no longer available.
