Legolas is one of the most well-known characters in The Lord of the Rings, thanks largely to how Peter Jackson's film trilogy portrayed the character. In fact, he became so popular that Jackson wrote him into the Hobbit prequel trilogy as well, even though the end result was a mixed bag.
The character of Legolas is defined by a series of traits that help solidify the person he is. He has both good and bad traits that rear up in equal measure, which is a testament to his passion and outlook on life. He's a fierce warrior, a devoted friend, and a poetic traditionalist who sees the good wherever possible.
His Traditionalism
Legolas was fully ingrained in Elvish culture since the day of his birth, and with that upbringing came a strict sense of traditionalism that his people carried down throughout the ages. He held a particular fondness for nature, as well as a sense of harmony with other living beings, even if he sometimes stepped on their toes.
Along with that devotion to tradition came a few bad habits Elves were notorious for, but for the most part, he was a man with deep-rooted convictions, and a personal code. He knew the history of his people, and how their actions helped shape the course of Middle Earth. He was proud to be a part of that rich ancestry, both good and bad.
His Low-Key Personality
Legolas was a man of few words, preferring to let others do the talking, but he wasn't above piping up when the need called for it. His low-key personality was a benefit, as it gave him a larger-than-life presence despite his nimble Elvish frame. Those who earned his ire soon came to regret it.
The rest of the time, Legolas stayed relatively in the background, preferring to keep his eyes on the surrounding environment. Yet, he was always aware of the situation and those within his circle. By speaking less, and listening more, Legolas could see things others could not. Unfortunately, the debate rages as to whether this trait made Legolas overrated, or underrated.
His Whispered Warnings
A funny gag of the Lord of the Rings films involves Legolas' penchant for eerie whispered warnings, usually as a means to increase tension. It began in The Fellowship of the Ring with his now-famous "we cannot linger" statement, but it would carry over into the next two films as well.
Actor Orlando Bloom managed to sell the over-dramatic effect, and these quotes proved Legolas was the best Elf in the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. Thankfully, his instincts were usually right, and when he issued one of those low-volume warnings, it usually meant that hell was about to break loose all over again.
His Competitiveness
Elves were quite known for their pomposity, a trait derived from how high and mighty they considered themselves in relation to other races in Middle Earth. Naturally, Legolas would be competitive, especially when it came to combat.
Battles were largely a game for Legolas and his favorite frenemy Gimli the Dwarf, and the two would frequently try to outdo each other on kill counts. Even when the smoke had cleared and the battle long since ended, the two would constantly bicker about who racked up more enemy bodies.
His Hot-Headedness
Legolas might have been a soft-spoken character most of the time, but he was extremely quick to anger. His buttons were easily pushed, which was uncharacteristic of most Elves who had a more firm temperament, and resistance to antagonistic behavior.
He became especially fiery when his friends were threatened, and he wouldn't hesitate to threaten the lives of those responsible. It was no bluff, either. Legolas would never draw his bow unless he was prepared to use it, and anyone in his sights would need to rethink their position.
His Flamboyance
The movie and book versions of Legolas are quite different in many respects, particularly when it comes to overall character description and material. In the movies, Peter Jackson played up the character to be something of a superhero, obviously for dramatic flair.
As such, he's much more flamboyant than Tolkien probably intended him to be, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Seeing Legolas surf his way down a flight of stairs or topple Mordor's forces on the back of a giant Oliphaunt is part of the fun of the films, even if it probably doesn't fit the character very well.
His Courage
Nobody could ever deny Legolas' courage, and he's thrown himself into one deadly meat grinder after another, without hesitation. At multiple times throughout the Lord of the Rings story, Legolas has faced down certain doom with hearty conviction and readiness.
It was this defiance in the face of overwhelming odds that probably pulled him through to the end. Legolas never met an enemy that he backed down from, and he never let fear show, no matter how grim the situation was. He would have taken on Sauron himself, even if there was no hope of winning.
His Loyalty
At the end of the day, Legolas would always stick around, and there was no possibility of him ever backing out from his commitments. When he forged a bond with his friends, he honored it until the end, with no expectations in return.
This made him a prime candidate for the Fellowship's quest, and the events that would take place therein. Even when all hope was seemingly lost, Legolas stayed firmly at the side of his friends, remained loyal to the mission, and never faltered when it came to defending those who needed it.
His Arrogance
Legolas inherited many bad traits from Elvish culture, including arrogance. While his people usually pursued the course of righteousness in the end, they were prone to turning up their noses at anyone they deemed inferior, and Legolas was no different.
There were obviously individuals he respected a great deal, such as Aragorn, but he held a particular disdain for the Dwarves, which made Legolas' character take a turn for the worse. Thankfully, this attitude softened as he befriended Gimli during the Fellowship's quest, and fought alongside him through several key battles.
His Compassion
One fact about Legolas that makes no sense is how the character goes from stoic and steely to warm and compassionate between the Hobbit and LOTR trilogies. In the latter, Legolas was a very compassionate individual who would let his feelings out under the right circumstances. He routinely showed regret, remorse, and pain over the loss of friends and loved ones, even when he needed to be strong.
He was also very poetic in his own way, espousing a world view in harmony with nature, life, and good deeds. Despite all his years of battle, killing, and destruction, Legolas never allowed those events to change who he was as a person. Rather, he remained committed to integrity, virtue, honor, and compassion at all times.