Folktales are alive and constantly changing. Folktales tend to thrive in areas where people are separated from others due to geographical boundaries or occupational neccessities. For example, a rich folk tradition can be found among the highlanders of the Appalachian Mountains in America, as well as among sailors. A folktale is not the same as a legend or myth, although some people use the terms interchangeably. A legend is a story from the past about a subject that was, or is believed to have been historical.
Myths also deal with the past.
Their setting is often the beginning of time and their subject matter is sacred. Folktales are more people-oriented than either myths or legends. Usually characters are one-dimensional due to the oral method of telling a tale. An exception to this is the character of Jack found in a category of folktales called Jack Tales. Jack is a multi-dimensional character.