The latter notably happens to the Elf-lord Glorfindel, who honorably dies in battle with a balrog in the First Age and is sent back with a new body to fight against Sauron at a later date.

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novel is full of magical artifacts, and many were made by the Elves. Published in three parts between 1954 and 1955, the novel formed the basis of Peter ...