In The Lord of the Rings and most other fantasy stories that followed Elves and Dwarves are portrayed as opposites. In terms of appearance, Elves are usually tall, thin, and clean-shaven ...

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.