Who do you reckon is the braver race in general, men or elves?

[Eönwë]

Well, if you're going for aerages then I say men. Look at the Vanyar for example. One war. They were safe and happy in Valinor, while everyone else was dying.

[Hot, crispy nice hobbit]

Hmm, I sense that justifications for the "braver" race are taking a turn towards the topic of mortality...

But instead of just looking at the reincarnating elf, why don't we take a look at the dangers facing an average Free race (Man, Elf, Hobbit, Dwarf, Ent, Wild Man)

Situation 1: Natural disaster; forest fires, volcano eruptions, earth quakes, etc

Situation 2: War; In-fighting between Free races, Goblin/Troll/Balrog/Dragon invasions

Situation 3: Get captured by the Enemy (Morgy in 1st Age, Corrupt Numenorean in 2nd, Sauron/Saruman in 3rd)

Of the three situations, two seemed to offer the prospect of immense torture and humiliation, not least because Middle Earth offered a reflection to this world where we live. War takes away the freedom of individuals; an experience etched in the memories of our very refered J. R. R. Tolkien. If the need for arms drove the courage of folks, then the competition between Men and Elves is not really a matter of debate.

Capture by the Enemy promises even a worse off fate than capture by enemies in skirmishes, as it broods that prospect of being tortured or turned. In some histories, elves were literally bio-engineered into the Master Race by Professor Morgoth. By 3rd age, Saruman had recovered the ancient art of genetic engineering and mated orcs with his men.

If this proved that neither elves nor men were spared the worst of fates, it did indicate that adversity is the mother of courage.

[MatthewM]

Men are braver.