The author's purpose in this passage is to inform. The author is informing the reader on how Elizabethans would typically store their food. It goes into details of differences between food types and some options for storing food and getting nourishment in summer and winter.
The words are used to show quick, straight actions, they are scattered about so that the reader has the impression that the scene is impactful as the excerpt "I was struck by the intimacy scene." shows. There is also the idea that only the ones engaged in the conversations are allowed to hear their content and finally, these people are free from their masters -- teachers, parents and any other adult that symbolizes authority.
