History Literature / MenAtArms

* BelatedBackstory: This is the book where we first learn that Vimes is the descendant of the man who killed the last king of Ankh-Morpork.

* ShoutOutToShakespeare: The scene with [[NoIndoorVoice SILAS! MARNER!]] the town crier being recruited for Carrot's militia is ''quite'' similar to a gag in ''Theatre/HenryIVPart2'' where a former herald with NoIndoorVoice is being drafted into the king's army.

* ImplausibleDeniability: When the situation in the city is getting beyond bad, one passer-by tries claiming the Patrician's palace has been set ablaze. Carrot then looks at the palace, which is in full view and very resolutely ''not'' on fire in any way. Shortly thereafter, Throat Dibbler claims the Bronze Bridge has been burnt down. This would be the very bridge he's just come running over.

* AutomaticCrossbows: Frequently averted. On several occasions, the plot revolves around the fact that the crossbow has either just fired or will leave the wielder unarmed for a time if it is fired. What makes the gonne dangerous is that it lacks that disadvantage on top of being longer range and almost always lethal.

* FromTheLatinIntroDucere: Carrot points out that, as a policeman -- from ''polis'', city -- he is a man of the city. Later, [[NotSoDifferent Vetinari points out "politician" comes from the same root]].

** Detritus recruits two trolls named Flint and Moraine to the Watch. Could be the same two from ''Moving Pictures'', though "Flint" changed his name a couple of times in that book.

* CharacterDevelopment: Compare Vimes and Carrot here to how they appear in ''Guards! Guards!'' Right from his first moments in the book, Carrot has significantly more depth than he did in his first appearance.

* DoesntLikeGuns: Assuming this applies to the Assassins is why they got the Gonne to guard. It actually ''does'' apply to most Assassins, as their reaction to similar weapons in later books demonstrates, but unfortunately Edward D'Eath is rather unhinged and doesn't hate the gonne too much to steal it. [[spoiler: Dr. Cruces also can't resist it when Edward tries to dump it.]]

* DumbMuscle: Detritus had previously appeared in ''Guards! Guards!'' and ''Moving Pictures'', but it's here that we start to get particularly acquainted with him and his... difficulties. Poor thing can't even read, and knocks himself out trying to salute. [[spoiler:Subverted in that when locked in a freezer, his silicon-based brain becomes a superconductor and he reaches near-godlike levels of intelligence.]]

* KeepTheReward: The reward scene seems to be repeating the scene in ''Guards! Guards!'', until it turns out Carrot is just warming up. The new dartboard is just the first and cheapest of Carrot's long list of requests, but [[KingIncognito he knows that Vetinari will grant them]].

** When Detritus recovers from his HeroicBSOD, he gets up and proceeds to the Assassin's Guild with bloody murder in mind. It is then we learn that some of the best trained killers in Anhk-Morpork have absolutely no way of dealing with a Troll... and ''they'' learn it too. Specifically, they have no way to fight a troll head-on. An assassin in ''Literature/SoulMusic'' was confident he could kill a troll by surprise if he hit the right spot in the back of its neck. (In a display of possible continuity, ''Soul Music'' happens after the events of ''Men at Arms'', when the assassins probably figured out the back-of-the-neck thing because the Detritus made them realise how helpless they were against Trolls.)

** After Colon and Nobby (while playing cards) have discussed the Arthurian pull-a-sword-from-a-stone legend and considered it insufficient to become king -
---> '''Colon''': A man who could shove a sword ''into'' a stone, though, ''he's'' a king.
---> '''Nobby''': A man like that'd be an [[TheAce ace]].
** Also from the conversation above, a hint at what reward a certain KingIncognito will arrange for Vimes, through negotiations with Vetinari:
---> '''Nobby''': That's what a king does if you're useful. [[spoiler: He makes you a knight.]]
** Minor example from early in the book. Angua is incredulous at Carrot's claim to likes long walks. Later on we find that it probably wasn't because she's a w[[spoiler: -oman]] but a w[[spoiler: -erewolf]].

* RealityEnsues: Edward d'Eath needs to get Beano out of the way for a while [[spoiler:in order to steal his identity]] so he gives him a TapOnTheHead. Only instead of putting Beano out like a light for twenty minutes, d'Eath accidentally ''kills'' him. (Beano even hears a ''crunch'' just before he dies, implying d'Eath broke his skull.)

* FantasyGunControl: Analysed. Vimes muses that gonnes would change the world because, instead of simply storing the power of your own muscles like crossbows, they 'give you power from outside' - the comparison to magic is obvious, and just as wizards try to restrict the availability of magic, assassins hate the gonne as it would make killing ''so easy''. So there are forces actively keeping gonnes from becoming available.

* HaHaYouSaidX: The Bursar is highly amused by Ridcully "Cleaning the organ," and furthermore, by his comment that it's a "Mighty organ." Ridcully's talking about the Great Hall's ''pipe'' organ, and orders the Bursar sent away.

* HoldYourHippogriffs: "Is the High Priest an Offlian? Does a dragon explode in the woods?" is the Discworld version of "Is the Pope a Catholic? Does a bear shit in the woods?"

* ShoutOutToShakespeare: The scene with [[NoIndoorVoice SILAS! MARNER!]] the town crier being recruited for Carrot's militia is ''quite'' similar to a gag in ''Theatre/HenryVIPart2'' where a former herald with NoIndoorVoice is being drafted into the king's army.

** Lord Rust here is shown as one of the more cynical and intelligent of Ankh-Morpork's nobles. In ''Literature/{{Jingo}}'' by contrast he's presented as TooDumbToLive, while in ''Literature/MonstrousRegiment'' he's about halfway between the two.

* AshesToCreashes: Beano's mortal remains are cremated and then poured down another clown's trousers.

* RealityEnsues: Edward d'Eath needs to get Beano out of the way for a while [[spoiler:in order to steal his identity]] so he gives him a TapOnTheHead. Only instead of putting Beano out like a light for twenty minutes, d'Eath accidentally ''kills'' him.

* {{Metaphorgotten}}: Parodied with Captain Quirke, whose nickname is 'Mayonnaise'.
--> '''Angua:''' Don't tell me. He's rich, thick and oily, right?
--> '''Colon:''' And smells faintly of eggs.

--> Didn't you used to be the town crier?
--> THAT'S RIGHT!

--> You killed Bjorn Hammerhock! The boy said you fired yourself! [[TheFarmerAndTheViper And he'd repaired you!]]
--> ''You expect gratitude? [[UniquenessDecay He would have made another gonne.]]''

-->'''Angua''': Annabel Curry couldn't have been much good, for only two dollars.
-->'''Carrot''': I shouldn't think so. [[WhamLine She's only nine years old.]]

-->'There's no need,' said Vetinari, trying to [[MajorInjuryUnderreaction smile]] and [[ICanStillFight stand up]]. 'It's just a flesh-'
-->The leg collapsed under him.

* PunBasedTitle: "Men-at-arms" is a real phrase for soldiers or guards, but "arms" can also refer to weapons. So we have "men at arms" who are also men (though Angua would object) "at" (against) "arms" (the Gonne.)
** The "Men" part itself refers to a major plot thread in the book; the hiring of non-men (a dwarf, a troll and a w[[spoiler:erewolf]] in particular) into the Watch, aka the "men at arms". Making this an even more convoluted pun.

--->'''Vimes''': That's not how you spell "gone".
--->'''Carrot''': Yes it is, sir.
--->'''Vimes''': I mean, it's not how "gone" is ''normally'' spelled.

* {{Werewolf}}: [[spoiler:Angua]]

* DeathGlare: Mr Cheese the bartender insists that a drunken Vimes has to pay his bar bill. Angua and Carrot merely *look* at Cheese and he immediately changes his mind.