At the beginning of the poem the season is spring, the weather is mild and the sea-waters are calm. The waves pour softly over the Inchcape Bell. The Heavy Bell on a buoy would ring due to strong waves only in stormy weather.

When the Rover cut the Bell it was spring season. The mood was happy, light-hearted. He was up to mischief in a rash, jolly mood on a lovely spring day. He wanted to only trouble the Abbot.

After undoing the Abbot’s good work the Rover went away on his criminal voyages. But when he was returning the sea was stormy. Wild winds threw the ship off course. The mood is of confusion and fear because a thick fog covered them from the sun. The mood is of suspense, the sailors are lost.

By nightfall they did not still know where they were. They are really and metaphorically in the dark. They could hear the waves crashing yet they did not know which land was near. There is fear. There was no wild wind but the rough sea was pulling their ship along. They desperately wanted some clue to help them to know their location. The ship shattered onto the rocks as the Rover yelled and cursed. The dramatic end is violent and filled with despair.