Structure

Out East is divided into three sections. The first and third sections are both titled "Winter" and the second is titled "Summer." The structure of the book is chronological. The first section therefore takes place the winter before John's experience at The Hive, the second charts the summer in Montauk itself, the final section briefly covers some of the aftermath. The sections are not of equal length. The longest by far is the "Summer" section which makes up the bulk of the narrative with 16 chapters. The first section has five chapters and the third includes only one chapter and an epilogue. Because each of the "Winter" sections are shorter they act somewhat like a prologue and epilogue for the main narrative that takes place in Montauk during the summer. The emphasis on the summer making up the main part of the story is also indicated by the...