The realm of poetry in the 17th century: distinctive sociability and cultural integration

In 17th century France, poetry called up cultural alternatives-linguistic o ptions, diffusion networks-which made of it a strong identity referent for cities the monarchy considered to be part of the "King's Body." As form of sociability one can easily ritualize, and as a cultural legacy praised by t he humanists, poetry offered a representation of the "City's Body" and legi timized this Body's privileges. However, this process might confine poetry to that representative function.