Lightning in Literature

[Travis_R]

Hello,
I am writing a research paper of the motif of lightning within Vladimir Nabokov's works (Humbert's Mother, The Return of Chorb, various allusions, etc.), and I was wondering if anyone could think of any other deaths by lightning, people being struck by lightning or famous appearences of lightning within other European Literature/Mythology. I can really only think of Justine in Marquis de Sade's novel, however I know I must be blanking. Thanks for any help!

[JBI]

The storm in King Lear may count, though in Greek, and I believe explicitly in Homer, Lightning is an epithet of Zeus. This, from what I remember was inherited by Renaissance thinkers, as well as Romans.

[Cunninglinguist]

We have Thor and Frankenstein among others who're somehow associated with lightning. Perhaps gander at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning#In_culture

Then we have: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A3M-d_eIqo

[The Comedian]

There's a great John Muir story called "Wind in the Forest" about his experience climbing the tallest pine in the forest during a hellacious thunderstorm. . . . it's a good read.

[JuniperWoolf]

James Joyce's Araby is a good example of the use of light and dark in literature, and it's a short story so it won't take you long to get through.