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The Timorese searching for freedom that Xanana reveals is the most significant part of the poems. This is the main purpose of the writer to analyze and
become the answer for the problem formulation. In addition, besides analyzing Timorese searching for freedom as developed in the poems, the writer also explicitly
related to the author‟s commentary on the social realities in Timor Leste which is the
meaning of the poems.
B. Approach of the Study
The poems are analyzed using the postcolonial approach. The writer considered that this approach is suitable because when the postcolonial approach puts
literary works as a product and a reflection of anti colonialism. Postcolonial approach also emerges as a personal and direct reflection of struggle and cultural clashes
between the colonized authors and the colonizers, and their fears, hopes, and dream about the future, as well as their own identity. Literary works can play its role as
documents that record social realities which are artistically portrayed by the authors Bressler, 1999: 266.
C. Method of the Study
The primary texts of the study are the poems written by Xanana Gusmao: “I
am at War ”, “Oh Freedom”, “Grandfather Crocodile”, “Maubere”, and “My Sea of
Timor .” References from library were also used to support this study. The other
references were the books related to the theories, approach, and the criticisms that were used to support the analysis.
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Several steps were taken by the writer in analyzing this study. Firstly, the writer read the poems as the main source comprehensively in order to get a deeper
understanding about the poems. From the comprehensive reading, the writer was able to find out the main idea of the poems. Other sources were also by the writer such as
related books about the struggle of Timorese of 1970‟s until 1990‟s to support the analysis.
In answering the problems formulated in the previous chapter, the writer collected the data related to the problem formulation. The analysis was based on the
postcolonial approach in order to get a realistic portrait of the Timorese struggle as described in the poems through the tone and imagery at the period of Portuguese and
Suharto‟s military regime in Timor Leste. The first step in analyzing this study, the writer analyzed the struggle of
Timorese for freedom described in the poems. Then, second the writer reveals the concept of freedom in Xanana Gusmao‟s perspective.
