How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Let me say at once: I was one of those clairaudient infants whose mental development is complete at birth and thereafter simply confirmed (3.32).
It's obvious from the beginning that Oskar is a bit of a liar. After all, does he really expect us to believe that he can accurately remember the moment of his birth? This claim suggests that Oskar is very uncomfortable with the idea of not feeling in control of a situation. Instead, he claims to have total knowledge of everything, and sometimes speaks of himself in the third person to reinforce this sense of being in control.
Quote #2
And those who were not yet dancing on the Maiwese grabbed the last available ladies before it was too late. But Lobsack had to dance with his hump, because anything wearing a skirt nearby was already occupied (9.52).
Early in the book, Oskar tells the story of how he used his drumming to make a Nazi marching band start playing dance music. He's quick to remind us that he didn't have political motives. He just liked the feeling of controlling the band. In other words, he was in it for himself; it wasn't a political protest.
Quote #3
For a long time, till November of thirty-eight to be exact, crouching under grandstands with my drum, with greater or lesser success I broke up rallies, reduced speakers to stutters, and turned marches and hymns into waltzes and foxtrots (10.1).
Here again, Oskar brags about the things he was able to achieve with his drum when he was a younger man. To be fair, he risked a lot by doing this. Still, Oskar reminds us again that he didn't drum out of anti-Nazi sentiment, but because he liked the feeling of being in charge.