Joyce uses the form of the narration itself (in addition to the content) to reflect the simplicity of the central character's mind when he was a child. The shifts in the narrative reflect a child's shifting attention. The result is a mixture of what is frivolous, nonsensical, or trivial with what is central.
Joyce uses nonstandard words “moocow” and “baby tuckoo” and distorted forms of words such as "nicens" (instead of "nice"). The language seems appropriate to a child's perspective.
The short sentences mimic the simplicity of the protagonist's thoughts.
The first sentence in the excerpt is long and not punctuated as expected.
Some consecutive fragments of narration aren’t related in any way. They are the author’s way of displaying the continual leaps of a person's mind. The narration has a dreamlike quality.
Rhymes and poems are interspersed in the narration, reflecting the child's natural playfulness.
He sang that song. That was his song.
O, the green woethe botheth.
Pull out his eyes,
Apologise,
In this way, Joyce's style establishes a greater intimacy between the reader and the author than would a more traditional narrative.
