01355383 Varieties of English and Cultures of English Native Speakers 06 | Page 29

Actor, comedian and writer Stephen Fry explained the
difference between the British and the American humour
that American humour is based upon
American optimism and the belief that life
can be improved through hard work.
Thus, its comedic hero tends to be
someone who is smart, witty and
successful.
David Brent from The Office is an example of a British
comedic/tragic hero.
You can listen to Fry’s full explanation here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k2AbqTBxao
On the other hand, the British love to
watch awkward underdog heroes who no
matter how hard they try still fail in the
end. Self-deprecation is a key ingredient in
British comedy.