Well, when a character dies, strangely enough, I rather like it if it's bright and sunny -- it's a cruel twist of irony. Anyone ever read
the Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane? Not the best book I've ever read, but it had some really good themes, one of which was how nature can be so beautiful while people spill blood in its midst.
Back on topic and to answer ungoliant's question about Boromir's death:
I believe it was actually a sort of dappled sunlight, broken by the shade of the trees. As
H-I mentioned, Boromir did redeem himself by fighting to his death. So, just as his death was a mix of good (redemption) and bad (the fact that he... well, died
), the location of his death was a mix of dark and light.