Self-deprecating

Definition: Showing or expressing disapproval of oneself.

Synonyms: Commendatory, Derogatory, Disapproving

Example:

"I'm a old hog," he said, more to himself than to me. "Just a old hog they fattening up to kill for Christmas."

"You're a human being, Jefferson. You're a man."

He kept his eyes on me as he got up from the bunk.

"I'm go'n show you how a old hog eat," he said.

He knelt down on the floor and put his head inside the bag and started eating, without using his hands. He even sounded like a hog.

I stood back watching him, while i continued to eat the biscuit and piece of chicken.

"That's how a old hog eat," he said, raising his head and grinning at me. He got up from his knees and went back to his bunk. "That's how a old hog eat."

-"A Lesson Before Dying" by Ernest J. Gaines

Explanation:

Gaines employs a self-deprecating tone in this passage to show how low Jefferson views himself. He disproves of his own image, and makes him self lower than he actually is, calling himself "a old hog" that the sheriffs are "fattening up to kill for Christmas." Calling himself a hog shows his own disapproval for his self image along with belittling himself beyond normal standards. To prove that he views himself this way he even eats out of the paper bag by putting "his head inside the bag...(and started eating) without using his hands. He even sounded like a hog." This proves to grant that he views himself as a hog and is deprecating himself to the level that the sheriffs and everyone else in town viewed him.