History Literature / Elantris

* KingIncognito: Raoden, sort of, several times. [[spoiler: When he's first sent to Elantris, he doesn't give his real name. People unusually smart and/or close to him figure out who he is in the end, but most people come to follow him simply because he's leading by example and getting things done. When Sarene accidentally subverts his efforts to help Elantrians by giving them handouts, he doesn't admit to being in charge and lets her think the former gang leaders are still running things. And later, he leaves the city disguised as a JiveTurkey, because he's still trying to figure out how to fix the magic.]]

* EurekaMoment: When Raoden shows Sarene his research on the [=AonDar=], she remembers a mnemonic trick she was taught to remember some of the Aons, based on the nearby geography. [[spoiler:This eventually leads Raoden to realize that the reason the [=AonDar=] aren't working is because Elantris' geography itself has changed because of the Chasm... and then to realize ''Elantris itself'' is another [=AonDar=] that is only missing a line to be complete.]]

** Similarly, Galladon's story of what happened to a woman after an Elantrian screwed up a healing [=AonDar=] leads Raodar to realize [[spoiler:the Shaod is just an incomplete transformation into an Elantrian.]]

** Similarly, Galladon's story of what happened to a woman after an Elantrian screwed up a healing [=AonDar=] leads Raodar to realize [[spoiler:the Shaod is just an incomplete transformation into an Elantrian.

* ChurchMilitant: The Shu-Dereth religion views combat as an expression of one's loyalty to God and Wyrn, and all of its priests are expected to be at least competent warriors. Hrathen's vestments actually include armor, though that's supposed to be ceremonial. [[spoiler:It isn't.]]

* Demonization: Hrathen very publicly blames the Elantrians for all of Arelon's misfortunes. Notably, he doesn't bear the Elantrians any particular ill-will, he just needs a rallying cry to convert the masses quickly.

* PhysicalGod: The Elantrians were this before the Shaod [[spoiler: and return to this state once [=AonDor=] is restored.]]

* EvilIsPetty: How else could you define sacrificing a children (in a ritual that's supposed to destroy his very soul) just to avoid a fifteen-minutes walk? [[spoiler: Dilaf]] justifies it saying that the occasional sacrifice reminds everyone their place, but that's not really better.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Hrathen first has a HeelFaceTurn to save [[LoveEpiphany Sarene]] and is nearly killed by Fjon, then dies after killing Dilaf and taking another wound in the process.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Where not for the enhancement he received at Dakhor, [[spoiler: Hrathen wouldn't have been able to survive his injury to kill Dilaf, the Dakhor's gadget. Even better, the enhanced arm itself is what he uses to kill him, and Dilaf actions were what caused Hrathern to lose faith in Shu-Dereth in the first place.]]
** In his first chapter, Hrathen tells a artheth to look for a monastery to undergo training and restore his faith. He picks up the monastery who trains assassins, and his told he has to prove his ambition by killing a target they give him. [[spoiler: Who ends up being Hrathen himself.]]

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Hrathen first has a HeelFaceTurn to save [[LoveEpiphany Sarene]] and is nearly killed by Fjon, then dies after killing Dilaf and taking another wound in the process.]]

** Brandon Sanderson recently posted an [[alternate ending {{http://brandonsanderson.com/Elantris-Alternate-Ending-Material/}}]] which ended with [[spoiler: Dilaf being changed into a zombie Elantrian by means of the Ian Aon, a healing Aon, sacrificing itself to defeat him. Due to the damage done to the Seons from the Reod, it healed him imperfectly and doomed him to the same fate as his lover.]]

** Brandon Sanderson recently posted an [[ alternate ending http://brandonsanderson.com/Elantris-Alternate-Ending-Material/]] which ended with [[spoiler: Dilaf being changed into a zombie Elantrian by means of the Ian Aon, a healing Aon, sacrificing itself to defeat him. Due to the damage done to the Seons from the Reod, it healed him imperfectly and doomed him to the same fate as his lover.]]

* TheAgeless: The Elantrians were this before the Shaod. [[spoiler:They didn't age, but they could still be killed by things like accidents and organ failure.]] The Shaod made them into TheUndead.

* VasquezAlwaysDies: [[spoiler:Karata.]]

* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Peaceful Korathi priests were blue, while militant Derethi priests were blood red.

* HonorBeforeReason: When Hrathen [[spoiler: uses his special poison to make Sarene appear to be an Elantrian, then exacts a promise from Eventeo to convert if Jaddeth can "heal" his daughter,]] Eventeo follows through on it, even after he finds out it was all a trick, because he gave his word. However, it's also made clear that he was likely going to convert anyway in the hopes of saving saving his kingdom and this gave him a way to save face.

* TheMagicGoesAway: Ten years before the start of the story, the type of magic wielded by the [[PhysicalGod godlike Elatrians]] (known as AonDor) suddenly stopped working and they all become hideous zombie-like horrors.

* PhysicalGod: The Elantrians were this before the Shaod [[spoiler: and return to this state once AonDor is restored.]]

* AmplifierArtifact: [[spoiler: The entire city of Elantris is one. It and it's outlying cities both [[SuperEmpowering transform ordinary people of certain bloodlines into Elantrians]] and provides them a huge amount of investiture for their use of the Dor. When Elantrians are far away from it their power is reduced, and when Elantris is broken they have powers that are greatly reduced.]]