how is the novel structured? how does this structure impact the meaning?

The story is divided into thirty-nine paragraphs of widely varying lengths. The chapters are identified by number only. There are no titles to give the reader a clue about the upcoming events. The story flows roughly in chronological order. Some chapters actually begin with a reference to time. For example, chapter ten begins with the words "That night" and chapter eleven begins with "The next morning." There is a great deal of history offered up as explanation throughout the story. In most cases, these are given through narrative as a normal part of the story. For example, Beatrice is at school and the author presents explanations of how the school operates, where it is located, and other key details. There is no effort to disguise the historical background in dialogue or through flashbacks. The method is effective for the story because there are so many details that will seem strange to the average reader. There are several instances of foreshadowing. In chapter thirty, Beatrice comes to realize how the Erudites will force the Dauntless to fight against Abnegation. The chapter ends with that statement. Chapter thirty-eight ends with Beatrice accepting that Four is probably going to kill her and she hears the sound of a bullet sliding into its spot in the chamber of the gun he's holding. These are obvious efforts to build tension and keep the reader moving to the next chapter, and it's effective.