The Four Loves

by

C. S. Lewis

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Four Loves makes teaching easy.

Gift-love

Gift-love is one of the three elements of love that Lewis identifies (along with Need-love and Appreciative Love). Lewis defines Gift-love as simple self-giving—for example, a father working hard to provide for a family… read analysis of Gift-love

Need-love

Need-love is one of the three elements of love that Lewis identifies (along with Gift-love and Appreciative Love). Lewis defines Need-love as the kind of love that a child has for its mother and… read analysis of Need-love

Appreciative Love

Appreciative Love is one of the three elements of love that Lewis identifies (along with Gift-love and Need-love). Lewis defines Appreciative Love as simple delight in the beloved, regardless of what the person can… read analysis of Appreciative Love

Affection

Affection (in Greek, storge) is one of the four broad types of love Lewis identifies. Lewis calls Affection the humblest and least discriminating form of love; human beings have it in common with animals… read analysis of Affection

Friendship

Friendship (philia in Greek) is one of the four broad types of love Lewis discusses. Lewis critiques modern people’s relative disregard for Friendship, arguing that in the ancient world, friendship was prized because of… read analysis of Friendship
Get the entire The Four Loves LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Four Loves PDF

Eros

Eros is one of the four broad types of love Lewis discusses. Eros is defined as the state of being in love. It includes sexual love (which Lewis calls “Venus”), but it’s also more than… read analysis of Eros

Charity

Charity is one of the four broad types of love Lewis discusses. Simply put, Charity is divine love. Lewis explains that God calls human beings’ natural loves to become “modes of Charity” while also remaining… read analysis of Charity