History Main / SolitarySorceress

* ''Series/LegendOfTheSeeker'': The witch woman Shota lives alone in the woods, giving out advice to the heroes that's based on her visions of the future (whether they want it or not) and influencing events when she thinks they're doing things wrong.

* Circe of ''Literature/TheOdyssey'' may be a candidate for UrExample for Western culture. She lives on an island and [[BalefulPolymorph turns shipwrecked sailors into pigs]], in order to fill her larder. Though often described as a sorceress, she is technically a demigoddess.

* ''LightNovel/IveBeenKillingSlimesForThreeHundredYearsAndMaxedOutMyLevel'': Eno the witch lives in a hidden, inaccessible cave because [[AppealToTradition she thinks it's traditional]]. When Azusa points out that she's [[DidntThinkThisThrough making herself incredibly lonely for no practical reason]], Eno moves into town, but [[ArtifactName continues to call herself]] the Witch of the Grotto.

Out in the wilderness, probably in the EnchantedForest, lives a woman with magical abilities. She may be a [[UnequalRites sorceress]], witch ({{wicked|Witch}} or [[WitchClassic otherwise]]), [[DivineParentage demi]][[OurGodsAreDifferent goddess]], [[OurMonstersAreDifferent supernatural creature]] in [[VoluntaryShapeshifting human form]], or some combination of these. Whatever the case, she at least looks like a woman, lives apart from the rest of society, and has some kind of special ability.

Out in the wilderness, probably in TheLostWoods, lives a woman with magical abilities. She may be a [[UnequalRites sorceress]], witch ({{wicked|Witch}} or [[WitchClassic otherwise]]), [[DivineParentage demi]][[OurGodsAreDifferent goddess]], [[OurMonstersAreDifferent supernatural creature]] in [[VoluntaryShapeshifting human form]], or some combination of these. Whatever the case, she at least looks like a woman, lives apart from the rest of society, and has some kind of special ability.

* Zecora of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' lives by herself in the Everfree Forest. Everypony thinks she's an evil enchantress because of her odd appearance (she's a zebra) and strange way of speaking (which sounds vaguely threatening), not to mention she lives in the Everfree Forest, which has a large share of strange and dangerous plants and animals while also having its own phenomena (since in Equestria, natural events like animals hibernating and leaves changing color are actively managed by the pony denizens). It turns out she is actually quite friendly. However, she can't cast spells like a unicorn, but as a zebra, she can concoct a wide variety of potions and has an extensive knowledge about plenty of things that the ponies may not know. The solitary becomes Downplayed over time as while she remains living in the Everfree, she is much more welcomed in town while visiting more frequently and even participating in events such as chaperoning fillies and colts for Nightmare Night.

* In the Literature/{{Discworld}}, the Literature/BabaYaga [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13797645/15/Strandpiel-Book-Two Natalya Svetlanovna]] lives alone by choice, although she provides the usual range of Witching services to several surrounding villages, a Cossack stanitsa, and to the household of the local Grand Duke. Her home is an isolated isba deep in the woods. Only in the last few months of her life does she take an assistant witch called Vasilisa - reluctantly - but she appears glad that so many Witches turn up to see her off on her last day.

* ''LightNovel/IveBeenKillingSlimesForThreeHundredYearsAndMaxedOutMyLevel'': Eno the witch lives in a hidden, inaccessible cave because [[AppealToTradition she thinks it's traditional]]. When Azusa points out that she's [[DidntThinkThisThrough making herself incredibly lonely for no practical reason]], Eno moves into town, but [[ArtifactTitle continues to call herself]] the Witch of the Grotto.

A notable exception to this trend exists, however: sisters. Specifically, [[TheWeirdSisters three of them]], often according to the pattern of TheHecateSisters. Like the [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Fates]], who shared a single eye and tooth among them, a typical trio of [[FamilyOfChoice sisterly]] witches function narratively as a single unit and thus qualify as "solitary" for the purposes of this trope.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_tn_aotrou_and_the_woods_witch.png]]
[-[[caption-width-right:350:[[http://www.tednasmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TN-Aotrou_and_the_Woods_Witch.jpg Image]] by [[http://www.tednasmith.com/ Ted Nasmith]].]]-]

[[folder:Folklore]]
* Literature/BabaYaga is generally depicted as an old witch who lives in the deep woods, and sojourns out to capture and eat children. Modern versions of the character are more ambiguous and in line with TheTrickster.
* The mountain hag Yama-Uba from Myth/JapaneseMythology lives in the remote mountains and eats people.
* Myth/CircassianMythology: In the tale of Warzameg and Psatina there is the Bitch-Witch of the Flying Wagon, who lives in an isolated cove with her herd of horses.
[[/folder]]

* "Literature/TheNixieOfTheMillPond": The wife climbs up a mountain to meet an old sorceress. The old woman herself brings up she lives in a lonely, out-of-the-way cottage.

* The Witch in ''WesternAnimation/{{Brave}}'' is an elderly woman living alone (apart from her [[CleverCrows sapient crow familiar]]) in a cottage in the woods. Merida finds her cottage following a trail of [[WillOTheWisp Will-o'-the-Wisps]], and asks her help to fix her relationship with her mother. The Witch initially refuses, saying she's out of that whole business after "too many dissatisfied customers."

* Red Reera of the ''Literature/LandOfOz'' books is a Yookoohoo (a powerful magic user specializing in transformations) and lives isolated with her pets in a cottage in the woods, because she dislikes human company. Usually she neither helps nor harms others, but Ervic manages to trick her into restoring the Three Adepts to their true forms. She takes being tricked with good grace, but tells him and the Adepts not to spread the word of her uncharacteristic helpfulness, because she doesn't want people to start pestering her for help all the time.

*
** ''Literature/{{Deverry}}'': In order to hide he doesn't die, this is one of the guises Nevyn routinely evokes, every several decades going to a poorly settled section of the kingdom where some ancient ruins are nearly buried under a hill by time. He lives there for 20-30 years, studying magic and administering healing and aid to the nearby village. He doesn't mind visitors, as long as the Wildfolk are behaving.

* One of the most famous examples of the overlap of WickedWitch and this trope is in ''Literature/HanselAndGretel'', in which the witch lives in the deep woods, in a GingerbreadHouse specifically in order to lure children, which she then fattens and eats.
* The old woman Betta stays with for a time in ''Literature/{{Pintosmalto}}'' lives alone and teaches the girl spells to get back Pintosmalto.

* In ''[[Literature/ConanTheBarbarian Hour Of The Dragon]]'', (usurped) King Conan is healed by one.

** It is first done with Matoya of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI''.

** A subverted version is Belgemine from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', in that you encounter her often in different places in your travels. However, by the end of the game, it's revealed that Remiem Temple is her home [[spoiler: and if you go there, she reveals she's Unsent]]. She is a summoner, like Yuna, and she often offers Yuna friendly duels throughout the game to train her.
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'', Y'shtola brings Alphinaud and the Warrior of Light to see her former master, [[spoiler: also named Matoya. The cave she lives in even has the same music as the first one. This Matoya helps them get to Azys Lla, the forbidden land, and she also holds the secrets to the Antitower. She's specifically meant to be a MythologyGag of the first one]].

* ''Film/SleepyHollow'' by the same [[Creator/TimBurton director]] has the Witch of the Western Woods.