How absolute was the monarchy under Louis XIV?

I would begin tackling this question with the student by asking them to define the term 'absolutism', as defining the parameters of the question is essential for higher level History. 'Absolutism by negotiation' and 'compromise was the order of the day' are two essential phrases from Campbell and Wilkinson respectively on this. Once doing this, we would consider the possible themes this question might entail: absolutism in society, with the nobility, Versailles and uprisings, politics, with the parlements, Huguenots, Gallicans and Jansenists, and economy, with attempts of financial reform and funding of foreign policy. Necessary context for this is Louis XIV's foreign policy, and I would ask the student to compare absolutism abroad and absolutism at home. After this, and assessing the extent to which the monarchy could be absolute, I would ask the student to rank them in order of importance, which would help the essay take shape and flow. The major historians for assessing absolutism are Bluche, Campbell, Wilkinson, Briggs and Doyle, and would be used to support the argument. The argument would be further supported by relevant source material, especially Saint-Simon's writings.