Along with the general character arc we have the monomyth or hero's journey. This refers to a basic pattern supposedly found in many narratives from around the world. According to Joseph Campbell in "A Hero with a Thousand Faces" (1949), “Numerous myths from disparate times and regions seem to share a fundamental structure.”
"A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man."
There are many films, especially in Science Fiction and Fantasy that follow this pattern, such as Star Wars and The Matrix.
Christopher Vogler expanded on this and wrote a guide for screenwriters: "The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers." Below is the basic ideas:
ACT I DEPARTURE, SEPARATION
1. Ordinary World
• "the ordinary world is the context, home base, and background of the hero..."
• "vivid contrast with strange new world..."
• "hero's problems and conflicts are already present in Ordinary World waiting to be activated..."
2. Call to adventure -> Hook
• "establishes stakes of game and makes clear the hero's goal..."
3. Refuse the Adventure
• "fear, terror of the unknown..."
• "not yet fully committed to journey, some other influence required to get past turning point of fear..."
• "change in circumstances"
• "further offense against the natural order"
• "encouragement of a mentor"
4. Meeting the Mentor
• "introduce Mentor(s) to prepare hero to face the unknown"
5. Crossing the threshold -> PP1
• "hero commits to adventure, fully enters Special World, no turning back"
• "hero agrees to face consequences of dealing with problem or challenge posed in the Call"
ACT II DESCENT, INITIATION, PENETRATION
6. Tests, allies, enemies
• "begins to learn rules of Special World (saloons/bars)"
• "encounters new challenges and tests, makes allies and enemies"
• "watch hero and companions react under stress, reveal aspects of hero's character"
7. Approaching the "inmost cave" = fear
• "hero comes to edge of dangerous place where object of quest is hidden (often HQ of greatest enemy & most dangerous spot in Special World)"
• "pause to prepare, plan, and outwit villain's guards - SECOND THRESHOLD is when hero enters Inmost Cave"
8. Supreme ordeal - Climax
• "fortunes of hero hit bottom in direct confrontation with greatest fear"
• "brought to brink in battle with hostile force with possible death"
• " 'black moment' for audience, held in suspense and tension, not knowing if hero will live or die"
• "hero must die or appear to die so he may be reborn (life or death moment in which the hero or his goals are in mortal jeopardy)"
9. Seizing the sword
• "celebrate surviving death and take possession of reward were seeking: treasure, knowledge, experience"
• "hero may also settle conflict with parent, or opposite sex (love scene)"
ACT III RETURN
10. The road back
• "hero deals with consequences of confronting dark forces of Supreme Ordeal"
• "if not reconciled, hostile forces may come raging after hero (chase scene)"
• "decision to return to Ordinary World, realizing Special World must eventually be left behind"
11. Resurrection - death and rebirth
• "hero must be reborn and cleansed in one last Ordeal of death and Resurrection before returning to Ordinary World (one last test to see if really learned lessons of the Supreme Ordeal)"
• "second life and death moment, almost a replay of death and rebirth of the Supreme Ordeal (death and darkness get in one last desperate shot before being finally defeated)"
• "hero transformed by moments of death and rebirth and is able to return to ordinary life reborn as a new being with new insights"
12. Return with "the elixir” - lesson/moral
• "hero returns to Ordinary World with Elixir, treasure or lesson from Special World"
• "Elixir may be treasure, love, freedom, wisdom, or knowledge that the Special World exists and can be survived"
• "unless something is brought back from the Inmost Cave, hero is doomed to repeat the adventure"