Quest Journals Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science Volume 11 ~ Issue 3 (2023) pp: 108-113 ISSN(Online):2321-9467 www.questjournals.org *Corresponding Author: Agung Rinaldy Malik 108 | Page Universitas Madako Tolitoli, Universitas Negeri Malang Research Paper The Construction of the Struggle Against Colonialism in the Poetry "Gugur" by WS Rendra: A Study of Literary Postcolonialism Agung Rinaldy Malik 1 , Arisa Darwis 2 1 (a lecturer of Indonesian Language Department Universitas Madako Tolitoli) 1 (a lecturer of Primary Teacher Education Department Universitas Madako Tolitoli) 1,2 (a doctorate student of Universitas Negeri Malang) ABSTRACT: Literature provides an overview of the social reality. One of them is expressed in poetry. The poem "Gugur" by WS Rendra, for example, illustrates the social reality that Ambarawa is still a colonial state. Colonialism at the end of the twentieth century took the form of no real societal sovereignty. As a result, this discussion provides an overview of postcolonial forms in the poem "Gugur". The method employed is a descriptive qualitative approach, with data analyzed using the content analysis method. The results show that this poem describes an elderly person who is still fighting the invaders. The Amabarawa ground soldiers were crawling and could no longer stand straight, but they were still fighting the invaders. Someone went to war against invaders, risking his life, just to defend the land he adored. KEYWORDS: Postcolonialism, Poetry, Literature Received 02 Mar., 2023; Revised 10 Mar., 2023; Accepted 12 Mar., 2023 © The author(s) 2023. Published with open access at www.questjournals.org I. INTRODUCTION The existence of literature is always linked to the life of society, both the author's and the reader's. Through messages or messages that aim to give meaning to life contained in a literary work, literature can provide valuable things to readers. The reader can better understand his life by reading this message. Literary works are a reflection of authors' creative cultural products [1]. The cultural product takes the form of a depiction of human life, which can take the form of a depiction of life, a social protest, a social criticism, a depiction of community culture, and so on. Poetry is one of the literary works that reflects the above. Poetry is a literary work with a distinct identity that is not shared by other literary works. In poetry, special markers take the form of strata of norms that include sounds, rhythms, and words [2]. Meanwhile, special markers include language deviations, syntax, diction, imagination, tone, and atmosphere, as well as inner structure, which includes code, theme, feeling, tone, atmosphere, and message [3]. Special markers in poetry make it difficult for the reader to understand. Thus, poetry is a type of literary work that is the most difficult to appreciate and comprehend when compared to other types of literary works (short stories, novels, plays). Scholars are frequently dazzled by the form and language characteristics of poetry. Understanding poetry in depth and carefully, so that readers do not have difficulty understanding poetry. The specialty of poetry is an ideal norm system that is inter subjective [4]. This statement illustrates that poetry must be considered as a collection of opinions that can be captured through individual spiritual experience. Poetry is one of the literary works that reflects the above description. Poetry essays are composed of beautiful and meaningful words [5]. Then etymologically, poetry comes from the Greek, Poeima which means to make or poesis which means to make. In English it is called a poem or poetry. Poetry means making, because writing poetry means creating a world [6]. So that every poem must have a meaning contained therein. However, special markers in poetry create comprehension difficulties for the reader. Thus, poetry is a variety of literary works that is the most difficult to enjoy and understand its contents compared to other types of literary works (short stories, novels, dramas) [7]. So it is not uncommon for people to have difficulty understanding a poem.