Question
Is there a foundational or uniquely preeminent body of writing to the French language in the order of what Homer, Cicero, Dante, Martin Luther, Shakespeare and Pushkin may be to their respective languages?
Background
I am not asking who is the greatest French writer. It's a question about reputation. I came to know of the "unique preeminence" of these other fellows just by living, not through any particular interest. (Sort of the same way I came to know about Marilyn Monroe, Bruce Lee or Jimi Hendrix.) If there is a similar name for French letters or the language, I wonder how I could have missed it.
Feel free to knock out any particular name from Homer etc.