The protagonist is put through a grueling test of character, but it was all a set up. There was never any real danger. For example, a mentor arranges for a girl to try seducing the married hero. If he says "no", the obvious right choice, he's told he passed. If he says "yes", he's failed and the girl doesn't sleep with him. ("Danger," clearly, is in the eye of the beholder.) Speculative Fiction would use magical illusions or virtual reality to trick the character. The mentor might even shapeshift. Sub-types: