What plot pattern appears in the Greek romances of Chariton, Achilles Tatius, Xenophon of Ephesus, and Heliodorus?

In the context of Western literature, the Greek romances written by Chariton, Achilles Tatius, Xenophon of Ephesus, and Heliodorus share a consistent plot pattern.123

These extended fictional narratives center on two young, virtuous lovers who are separated by a series of perilous misadventures—such as kidnapping, shipwrecks, bandits, or jealous quarrels—caused by both human wickedness and natural catastrophes. Following these trials, the protagonists are eventually reunited and achieve a happy ending. Most of these works are set against a quasi-historical backdrop, distinguishing them from the pastoral setting found in Longus’s Daphnis and Chloe. This structural focus on separation, adventure, and reunion served as a significant precursor to the development of the modern novel.1234