J.R.R. Tolkien’s mother was named Mabel Tolkien, and she played a major role in his early education.
After the family returned from South Africa, Mabel taught Tolkien and his brother Hilary at home for several years. She introduced him to Latin, Greek, German, and literature, and she encouraged his interest in languages. Tolkien also became fascinated by the sounds and structures of Welsh and other languages during his childhood.
Mabel converted to Roman Catholicism in 1900, a decision that shaped Tolkien’s religious life and influenced his family’s future. She died in 1904 at the age of 34, leaving Tolkien and Hilary orphaned. Tolkien later regarded her as a courageous figure and remembered the sacrifices she made for her faith.
Edith Tolkien was Tolkien’s wife, not his mother. Priscilla was his youngest child, and Jane was his sister. These family names can appear in biographies of Tolkien, but Mabel is the person connected with his early home education and childhood language lessons.