When elves die, their spirits go to the Halls of Mandos and are reincarnated/re-embodied after a certain amount of time. Glorfindel is the most famous case, but Finrod also "walks with Finarfin his father" according to the Silmarillion.
Not all elves are return to life. Feanor is still in the Halls of Mandos because of his crimes. Also, according to the Tolkien Gateway, Finwe refused to return to life so that Miriel may live again.
What about the other Noldor who died in Middle-earth, specifically the High Kings? Were they allowed to come back? If so, who would be the High King of the Noldor? Finarfin ruled the remnants of the Noldor after his brothers left, but Fingolfin was the High King after the death of Feanor, at least in Middle-earth. And there are other kings as well. If they were allowed to return to life, what would their status be?
Great question and great topic! I will give this some thought.
"Glorfindel was the most famous case" Who was he before? I haven't read all the way through the Silmarillion yet.
I won't spoil it for you. His role in The Silmarillion is small, but it is important.
@eldariontkd True, it's one of those I WANT TO KNOW and "wait nevermind". I kind of happy you didn't answer.
I admit, I like this after only reading the title. What a great topic! I wonder if their status would depend on deeds? Like Gandalf was promoted to Gandalf the White on his return but I'm not so sure if that would have happened if Saruman had remained true.
Gandalf is a Maiar and thus doesn't need a body. To come to Middle Earth in the first place Olorin took on the body of an old man and came as a wizard, named Mithrandir by the elves and Gandalf by men. So after being sent back by the Valar he took on his old body with newer powers and Galadriel clothed him in White as he became what Saruman was supposed to be. Gandalf never died as he couldn't.
There's also the case of the Teleri and the Sindar. Who would be their King if they re-embodied in Aman?
Halls of Mandos, there isn't any record of a Teleri or Sindar being released and extremely few Noldor. Not even Teleri King Thingol, husband of Melian the Maiar was released, or at least there is no record of it.
If any elf were returned to life he or she would stay in Aman, so there would be no record of it in Middle-earth. Only one elf came back to Endor.
Right, just saying there doesn't seem to be many elves allowed to leave the Halls.